(Finance) – The EU is working on the squeeze on arrivals from China. The European Crises Mechanism (IPCR) was summoned today at 3pm to discuss a common line towards travelers from China, after the explosion of Covid infections in the country.
There technical meeting, which does not foresee the presence of ministers, will end around 18.30: a press conference is not foreseen but the dissemination of information from the presidency.
“The lifting of restrictions on departures from China, combined with the growing spread of Covid-19 in the country, has made the need for joint European action concrete,” said the Swedish prime minister and current president of the EU Council, Ulf Kristersson.
Europe has so far moved in no particular order on checks at airports with Italy, France and Spain requiring a negative swab for anyone arriving from Chinese airports, while Germany has not yet imposed the obligation to swab. It is therefore necessary to find a common line to avoid a new pandemic wave but also the division of the Twenty-seven in the measures adopted.
“The measures that could be taken – said the European Commission spokesman Tim McPhee – are in line with those that have been defined by the Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides in a letter it sent to health ministers after its December 29 meeting” from the Health Security Committee. It “could include stepping up wastewater monitoring or genomic surveillance. We will continue to play our role as facilitators of these discussions between member states and stand ready to convene further meetings if needed.”
Yesterday the Health Security Committee – did know the EU health commissioner – found agreement on the actions to be taken, including: ?pre-departure tests for travelers from China; acceleration of wastewater monitoring; increased internal surveillance.