MEPs Guy Verhofstadt (Renew Europe, Belgium) and Domènec Ruiz Deves (S&D, Spain), as members of the Conference on the Future of Europe, are calling for a new European strategy to better fight the coronavirus and also for the creation of "a European Health Semester".
Contrary to what many might have thought at the end of the summer of 2021, with the successful achievement of the immunization targets for the adult population in several European countries, the coronavirus pandemic has not yet been overcome and remains the most urgent challenge facing our societies, particularly in our continent.
Indeed, the opposite is true: the emergence of the new variant Omicron and a rapid deterioration of the health situation in Europe shows that until the majority of the world's population is vaccinated, everyone is at risk and dangerous mutations will continue to appear. Furthermore, in the face of the sixth wave, the right to free movement must also be preserved. Thus, it is essential that bold and coordinated measures be taken at European level. That is why we urgently call a mid-term strategy to fight against the Covid-19 which must be both, European and global. The Health Union launched in the autumn of 2020 shows us the way, with the successful common EU purchase scheme.
The situation in the Union as a whole is certainly worrying. It varies considerably between countries, but Member States with lower vaccination rates are the most affected. This is despite the fact that the most effective tool against the disease has been developed in record time, the vaccine, together with physical distance, the use of masks, and adequate ventilation of enclosed spaces.
Why then are we facing a sixth wave in Europe? First, precisely because the vaccination rate is uneven among Member States. In the framework of an internal market and a Schengen area of free movement, there has most likely been a contagion effect from Central and Eastern Europe to the rest of the Union, aggravated by the arrival of cold weather in autumn and the return to indoor and not sufficiently ventilated spaces.
In addition, millions of people are still refusing to get the vaccine, even in countries with high immunization rates. This puts not only them at risk, but also the rest of the community, which is not acceptable. Even in Spain, with a vaccination rate above 90% of the population over 12 years of age with the vaccination complete, over four million people over 12 years of age are still not immunized, which remains a source of concern for the health authorities.
Various strategies have been followed to overcome this obstacle, from information and persuasion campaigns to the compulsory vaccination announced by the Austrian government on November 19, 2021, in view of the seriousness of the situation in this country. On 1st December von der Leyen also called Member States to consider the application of mandatory vaccination.
France and Belgium have opted to require a certificate of vaccination or proof of disease clearance to frequent places of entertainment, which greatly boosted the immunization rate. Italy has probably adopted the most effective strategy to maximize vaccination rates by making the Covid certificate a condition to access leisure sites but also the workplace.
Secondly, there is increasing evidence regarding the progressive loss of effectiveness of the vaccine over time according to a review of scientific studies conducted by the journal Nature and published on September 17, 2021. The European Commission recommended on 25 October 2021 to provide booster shoots for the entire adult population, starting with those over 40 years of age. If we are to preserve the single market and the right to move, this is a step on the right direction, but it needs to be complemented with additional measures in order to avoid the unilateral introduction of internal borders, as witnessed in previous waves.
In order to address this challenging situation, there should be an EU mid-term strategy, in order to maximize the vaccination campaign, by further protecting the already vaccinated, with the booster, but also by reducing the number of unvaccinated, particularly in some Member States, and by expanding immunization to children aged 5-11.
Regarding the first dimension, the Commission should consider already going beyond recommending the booster, but organisation a “European Health Semester”, with measures such as including the requirement of two annual vaccines on a permanent basis. The necessary capacity to produce adapted vaccines to dangerous mutations should also be in place.
On the tricky question of mandatory vaccination, such a legal mandate will prove very hard to implement. It could be more practical and effective for the European Commission to recommend a vaccination requirement to access not only bars, restaurants, theatres and so on, but also public transport, and workplaces.
Finally, following the approval of the European Medicines Agency on November 25, 2021 of the vaccine for the 5-11 age group, we should advance decidedly to immunize this segment of the population. Children are not the population that is at most risk, but they can certainly transmit the virus to teachers, other adults and older people. The Commission must also make a clear recommendation to this effect.
Regarding cross-border travel, a matter of particular importance for the Schengen Area, that must be preserved, the Commission can propose that only vaccinated people could benefit from it, perhaps adding also a negative PCR on top if the situation were to worsen.
Finally, Europe must expand its industrial capacity for the production of vaccines, financed by the Recovery Plan if necessary. However, our efforts to tackle the pandemic must not end at our borders, and production in the EU should be a gateway for the provision of the vaccine to the rest of the world, and its production in developing countries, including facilitating the licencing rights and use of patents.
Thus, the EU should spearhead the reinforcement of the Covax initiative, through a Global Health Pact, that could be financed with an extraordinary issuance of special drawing rights from the IMF and donations from developed countries. To this end, we call for immediate convening of an international donor conference by the EU and the United Nations should be a priority of the Union.
The reader has probably noticed that we have used a lot the verb “recommend” in asking actions by the Commission. Indeed the Treaty unfortunately does not endow the Union with hard competencies to deal with epidemics. The question is whether, in a Union with free movement, responsibility for the implementation of these measures should rest solely with the Member States. The issue must be addressed at the Conference on the Future of Europe.