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The European health pass still the subject of tough negotiations

2021-05-20T19:25:12.038Z


There are many differences between the European Parliament and the Council. The various negotiators hope to arrive at a solution within the week.


Negotiations on the European health certificate resume Tuesday evening between MEPs and representatives of the Member States, and time is running out to reconcile points of view on this pass, which must be operational before the end of June.

To read also: Gaspard Koenig: "The sanitary pass is voluntary servitude"

The proposal for a regulation establishing this certificate aims to establish a harmonized framework to facilitate free movement within the EU during the summer tourist season, when several countries have already started to put in place such initiatives. The document must certify that its holder has been vaccinated, or that he has passed a negative test or that he is immune after being infected with Covid-19.

But there are differences between the European Parliament and the Council, an institution representing the Member States.

"For now, there are still a lot of open questions," German MEP Birgit Sippel (Socialists & Democrats) told AFP.

The European Parliament is demanding that the tests be available free of charge, which a number of Member States refuse, because of the cost to their finances that this measure would entail.

Negotiations could last

Another point of disagreement: MEPs want to ensure that holders of a certificate will not be imposed a quarantine or additional tests by the country of destination.

But the Member States, on this issue which again falls above all within their competence, wish to reserve this possibility in the event of the emergence of a variant, for example.

Negotiators have already predicted that negotiations could continue in the coming days if no agreement is reached on Tuesday evening.

“Everyone is willing to move forward.

We are hopeful of getting there this week, ”said a European diplomatic source.

Read also: A European health pass "available at the end of June", according to Clément Beaune

German industry lobby VDMA called for a quick deal, stressing the importance of this certificate for the European economy. It would “enormously” facilitate the posting of workers by companies, explained Managing Director Thilo Brodtmann, urging negotiators to “pragmatism”.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-05-20

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