Covid-19 explosion in China: EU meets to find ‘coordinated approach’

Brussels intervenes. The European Commission convened a meeting on Thursday to “discuss (…) possible measures for a coordinated approach” by EU states to the explosion of Covid-19 cases in China.

“In light of the pandemic situation in China,” the European executive will convene a committee on Thursday morning, which will be attended by representatives of the “twenty-seven” health ministries, a Commission spokesman said. According to her, the goal is to “discuss with Member States and EU (health) agencies about possible measures for a coordinated European approach.”

Following the sudden end this month of China’s “zero Covid” policy, which led to a very large wave of infections in the country, several states around the world are concerned about the possibility of new variants of the virus spreading from the Asian country. virus.

On Wednesday, Italy already decided on mandatory testing of all travelers arriving from China. A measure already taken in Japan and which the US also adopted on Wednesday.

Other EU countries are waiting for other countries: the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron “requested appropriate measures to protect” the French from the government, which guarantees “to follow the development of the situation in China very closely.” Paris says it is “ready to explore all useful measures that can be implemented as a result, together with France’s European partners and within the current legal framework.”

Don’t let countries go it alone

The European Commission wants to prevent some EU member states from acting alone by accepting restrictions on their borders without consultation, as they did at the very beginning of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. On the recommendation of the Commission, the G27 agreed in early December to lift all restrictions on entry into the EU for travelers from third countries and return to the pre-pandemic situation.

With the caveat, however, of “emergency braking”: the possibility of re-imposing restrictive measures “in a coordinated manner” if the epidemiological situation requires it. “The BF.7 Omicron variant, common in China, is already present in Europe and has not received significant distribution there. However, we remain vigilant and ready to use emergency brake if necessary, ”concluded the representative of the commission.