EU Summit: Concern over Omicron expected to prevail at 27 leaders’ meeting

The leaders of the 27 EU member states will try to coordinate their actions today in the face of the outbreak of covid-19 and the rapid spread of the coronavirus Omicron strain, which has prompted many bloc countries to impose strict entry rules. their territory.

The threat of a new conflict between Moscow and Kiev will also dominate this meeting in Brussels, where the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia in the event of an attack on Ukraine will be considered.

“We are prepared. In the event of a new military aggression, the cost to Russia will be very high,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

At the forefront of the pandemic, concerns about the spread of the new Omicron strain, which is highly contagious, even in the run-up to the Christmas holidays, will monopolize the first talks between the leaders of the 27 countries.

Omicron is likely to dominate Europe by mid-January, according to the commission.

The leaders are expected to stress the importance of further expanding covid-19 vaccination and, above all, booster doses. About 67% of Europeans are fully immunized, but this figure is lower than 50% in three countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia) and in Croatia just over 50% (50.04%).

The issue of compulsory vaccination, which Austria and Germany are preparing to impose, will also be discussed, although the decision is ultimately made by each country and not the EU. According to the World Health Organization, compulsory vaccination should be “. last choice “.

Vaccine and test

Although vaccination remains “key”, it is “not enough” on its own to prevent the transmission of covid-19 and reduce the burden on countries’ health systems, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned on Wednesday. ), recommending the immediate reinstatement of measures such as teleworking, mask use, reducing congestion in public transport and public spaces.

When it comes to travel, many countries already require travelers to take a negative molecular test to enter their territory, even if they are fully vaccinated against covid-19.

The discussion will then focus on the energy crisis, as energy prices have skyrocketed, although no specific decision is expected.

Some countries, such as France and Spain, are calling for reforms in the European electricity market, while most countries are hesitant, considering the crisis to be occasional and judging more effectively the consumer support measures taken by some governments.

Another issue on the agenda of the 27 leaders is immigration, following the recent influx of many migrants to the borders of three European countries bordering Belarus, which Brussels accuses of orchestrating a crisis in retaliation for Western sanctions against it. At the same time, EU countries want to reduce migration flows as a whole.

The bloc’s leaders want an action plan to be implemented “without delay” with a number of countries of origin and transit of migrants, and urge the Commission to ensure that “the necessary funding is available”, according to a draft resolution of the summit.

At the dinner, which will be attended by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, the 27 leaders will discuss Europe’s economic situation and the potential impact of Omicron on the region’s economic recovery.

This summit will be the first for German Chancellor Olaf Soltz, his Austrian counterpart Carl Nehammer, as well as for Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson.

Source: AMPE