Any restrictions on travel in the European Union should be based on objective criteria and should not undermine the importance of the single market, European Union leaders agreed in conclusions on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, released after the conclusion of the debate at Thursday's European Council in Brussels.
In the conclusions on the pandemic, the European Council also calls for the rapid adoption of changes to the It reiterates that vaccination is vital to tackle the pandemic. The promotion of vaccination for all and the administration of booster doses is vital and urgent. In this context, it remains key to overcome the reluctance to use vaccines. In addition to vaccination, the implementation of the EU strategy for treatments against COVID-19, including joint procurement, should be taken forward.
Coordination says that continuous concerted efforts are needed to address developments, based on the best available scientific evidence, while ensuring that any restrictions are based on objective criteria and do not undermine the functioning of the single market or disproportionately hinder free movement between Member States. The European Council calls for the swift adoption of the revised Council Recommendation on safe free movement and the revised Council Recommendation on non-essential travel to the EU. The European Council stresses the importance of a coordinated approach to the validity of the EU digital certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 and notes that the Commission will adopt a delegated act on this matter.
On international cooperation the European Council underlines that the pandemic will only be overcome through global cooperation based on trust and mutual assistance. In this context, it commends Botswana and South Africa for their vigilance and transparency in identifying, sequencing and reporting the most recent variant that is an Omicron concern with such speed, and stresses the importance of upgrading the global capacity for genomic sequencing.
The EU, it adds, is committed to playing its role in achieving global vaccination. The EU is the world's largest donor and exporter. We will continue to export and share doses of vaccines and supplies, and will strengthen our support to countries most in need, particularly in Africa, both by continuing to provide support to the COVAX mechanism and on a bilateral basis, in cooperation with partners, it says.
In order to address barriers to the availability, sharing and management of vaccines, and to remove obstacles to the global circulation of vaccines, the European Council calls on the Commission to further strengthen support to Member States and third countries, to continue working with manufacturers and to strengthen coordination with the World Health Organisation, COVAX and other partners. The European Council invites the Council to monitor the fulfilment of vaccine commitments with full transparency and to return to the issue as appropriate.
The European Council welcomes the agreement reached by the World Health Assembly on 1 December 2021 to launch a global process to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with a view to adoption under Article 19, or under other provisions of the World Health Organization's constitution.
The European Council welcomes the agreement reached by the World Health Assembly on 1 December 2021 to launch a global process to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with a view to adoption under Article 19, or under other provisions of the World Health Organization's constitution. CNA
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