The Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States discussed coordination between their countries in the context of the coronavirus pandemic on the second day of the European Council on Friday 2 October.
“As you know, the subject was not on the agenda. But we and some other Member States have called for a debate among heads of government on the management and coordination of the fight against the Covid in Europe”, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said after the summit, pointing out that the virus currently occupies 80% of European leaders. For the Austrian, coordination is essential to ensure the right health conditions for the movement of persons within the internal market, but also from non-Member States.
While the item was indeed not explicitly on the agenda (see EUROPE 12571/3), according to our information, it was the one that occupied the leaders the most this Friday morning. They also amended the draft conclusions to include the Covid-19 issue at the top of the list. In particular, they call on the EU Council, together with the European Commission, to strengthen the coordination effort between Member States to better contain the pandemic.
The need for further work to develop a vaccine is also stressed, as well as the importance of preparing for its distribution within populations.
“It was very good that the leaders decided to devote time to our collective response to the Covid pandemic”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed in a press conference, stressing the “worrying” epidemiological situation. Fearing a return to the “dire situation” of spring, the President insisted on three points.
Firstly, the Member States and the European institutions must support research into a vaccine. Here, Ms von der Leyen pointed out that the Commission had concluded two agreements with pharmaceutical companies, that five others were under negotiation and that discussions were under way with four additional laboratories (see EUROPE 12563/8).
Above all, it is necessary to prepare the next step with the immunisation coverage strategy, she insisted. “Whom to vaccinate first?”, asked Ms von der Leyen in front of a press room that was empty due to health measures. A draft recommendation is expected shortly, she said.
Furthermore, there is a need for better coordination between the Member States both in assessing the situations on the ground and in taking action, Ms von der Leyen insisted. She gave as an example the health colour code used by the different Member States, which requires coordination and harmonisation of criteria.
“I urge the Member States to find an agreement now because it increases transparency and clarity for the European people on how to move on the different regions of Europe.”
Time is running out. “We are concerned that the cases are increasing. We have some tough months ahead of us. Priority must be given to the economy, to school, because children need education. [...] Everyone would like it to be over, but it is not possible as long as there is no vaccine”, worried German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Indeed, the virus continues to progress, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, which has been spared until now, while herd immunity is barely over 15% (see EUROPE 12567/7). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens, with Agathe Cherki and Aminata Niang)