During the plenary session (14-17 September 2020) in Brussels, MEPs debate on the Covid-19: EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schengen and the single market. Opening statements.

Brussels

debate

plenary session

Schengen reform package (T)

REYNDERS, Didier (BE, EC)

ROTH, Michael (DE)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

economic situation in Europe (T)

Covid-19: EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schengen and the single market: Opening statements of the Council and Commission

SOUNDBITE (Original), Katarina BARLEY, EP Vice-President, Dear colleagues, I think we shouldn't wait any longer. I was told that the council is on its way. So maybe if the commissioner could prepare to take over first. But first of all, I declare the sitting resumed.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Katarina BARLEY, EP Vice-President, The next item on the agenda, council and commission statements in this case, perhaps commission and council statements. Covid-19, EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schegen in the single market.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Katarina BARLEY, EP Vice-President, I would like to point out to members that there will be no catch the eye of speeches accepted. And no blue cards will be granted. So if you can agree, perhaps I could give the floor first of all to Commissioner Reynders.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Thank you. President honourable members, well, may I first thank the European Parliament for including this item on the agenda for today's plenary.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, This is an opportunity for the commission to take stock of the situation and the different efforts that have been implemented and to work together for a more coordinated approach when it comes to restrictions on free move movements and other measures taken against the Covid 19 pandemic.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Would you like me to carry on? Very well. Since the beginning of the pandemic. Member states have implemented a series of measures to fight against the spread of the virus. And some of these measures have put restrictions on free movement within the union.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, These unilateral measures were taken with a view to protecting public health, have had as a consequence a number of difficult disruptions that any restrictions to the fundamental right of free movement taken to address public pose risks should only be used, were strictly necessary and be coordinated, proportionate and non discriminatory.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Businesses and citizens has been confronted with diverging measures often adopted at very short notice and not sufficiently coordinated with other member states.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Many of us have failed this in our daily lives, with long queues at the borders and confusions about where we can travel in the EU and under which conditions through the last months the commission worked closely with the member states to ensure EU citizens' rights are respected.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, We showed several guidelines and communications linked to the pandemic in a first step. We have successfully addressed challenges such as blanket restrictions to free movement. But now most member states have put an end to the controls.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, They are first introduced at their international borders. However, restrictions to free movement persist and in some member states have even been reinforced after year after the beginning of this crisis.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, We can no longer afford and called an the restrictions to cross-border movement.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, We need, ladies and gentlemen, a more predictable and transparent, coordinated approach in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Preserve citizens' health and free movement in the union. Strengthened coordination is essential for thousands and indeed means of border vulnerable citizens crossing borders on a regular basis for work and also to impede the separation of families living on either side of a border.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, That is why on the 4th of September, the commission proposed a recommendation for the Council for a coordinated approach as regards restrictions on free movement.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, And our proposal is based on two foundational principles of European law when it comes to free movement, proportionality and non-discrimination. These principles must be respected. They must be upheld in all restrictions enacted by member states.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Our proposal put forward an approach based on four different points : common criteria for member states when deciding whether to introduce restrictions to free movement.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, the case notification rate, which is the total number of newly notified cases per 100000 people in a given area in the last 14 days. The test positivity rate, which is the percentage of positive test amongst all tests carried out during the last week.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, The testing rate, which is the number of tests for 100 thousand people carried out during the last week.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Second, a common colour code should be used across the union to provide clarity for all termed a common approach should be established when dealing with travellers coming from areas deemed to be at higher risk and false, giving clear, comprehensive and timely information to the public. We need to step up our communication reforms.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Member states should also inform each order and the commission of any upcoming restriction on a weekly basis. This information should also be regularly provided by the Commission for publication on the We Open a new web platform which already contains valuable information.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, The commission does not propose any new restrictions, nor Anchorage member states to do so. Instead, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Stresses the importance of general sanitary miseries in containing the virus, such as physical distancing and the wearing of masks.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, However, where a member state does consider that travel restrictions are essential. The commission wants to ensure that this is done in a more coordinated way. The decision to introduce such restrictions remains a responsibility of the member states, which have to comply with EU law.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Of course, member states have the possibility not to introduce restrictions at all, even if the different criteria outlined in the draught recommendation are met. We are working closely with the German presidency and we look forward to the discussion on this proposal.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, If I may Madam Presiden allow me to add a few words on the Schengen area and free movement of goods and services. Schengen is a measure achievement of the EU and it is a leaving project doing 35 years of existence.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, It has faced many challenges that reshaped it. But now Shenzhen is at risk. And not only because of the pandemic. Never before has the Schengen area been put to the test, as in the last five years after the migration crisis of 2015, but also after increased terrorist threats.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Controls at internal borders sometimes became the new normal. We are determined to change this situation. In the recent Security Union strategy and in the upcoming year pact on migration and asylum.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, The commission is identifying a number of initiatives for a stronger and more complete Schengen, in particular as regards trust building and efficiency of controls at the external external borders.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, I know that in addition to free movement of people, free movement of goods and services is a subject matter that is close to the heart of many in this house in this regard.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Let me reiterate a message already raised by Commissioner Breton, whereas in the Competitiveness Council on 1st September, we need to ensure free movement of goods and services between member states to safeguard supply chains.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, It is essential that all necessary measures are taken for this to become a reality on the ground so that borders, workers and goods are able to cross borders in less than 15 minutes.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, And while our focus today is a smooth functioning of the EU internal market and Schengen, let us bear in mind that Europe and supply chains have to remain connected to global ones, and the unrestricted access of essential transport workers from third countries needs to be upheld as well.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, To conclude, President, ladies and gentlemen, free movement. The Schengen area and the single market are some of the major achievements of the union of key importance to the European economy. We have a duty to protect them in this crisis.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, Now, more than ever, we must to work together. We must work even more closely together in order to show to European citizens that in this difficult time, the EU is present, present to protect their health, their rights, their freedom.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, We are closely cooperating closely. I have said as much to Germany's president, and I would like to thank you once again for including this on the agenda. And I am looking forward to our debate and to do my best to answer your question. Thank you

SOUNDBITE (Original), Katarina BARLEY, EP Vice-President, Thank you very much, Commissioner. I would now like to give the floor to the council, minister Roth.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, Thank you very much. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, honourable members, I would like to begin by apologising for making you wait this afternoon, but I was in discussions with your president, Mr Sassoli.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, This took a little bit longer than planned and I've had to rush here as fast as I could. But I think there's a good spirit of cooperation between parliament and council and we went to this time.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, So it's a great pleasure for me to take part in this debate on a subject that is of great interest, not only to the members of parliament and now the representatives of council and commission, but a matter of importance to every citizen of the EU.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, At the moment, we are all feeling that this harsh crisis is still not over. In virtually all member states of the EU, the number of covered cases is on the rise, sometimes dramatically on the rise.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, So what is at stake is nothing less than the protection of our citizens, and all our institutions have the same shared obligation to protect people's. Health as well as possible, and if it is true, what we keep on saying here in the European Union or in the European Parliament that the virus has no passport. The virus doesn't stop at national borders.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, Then this simple recognition should lead us to develop the right course of action. After a difficult start at the beginning of the crisis, we did finally managed to draw the correct conclusions in that we said we must show solidarity, that that should be the watchword.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, We need to help one another with medical equipment, technical equipment. And we are now helping one another. We have developed procedures to ensure that everybody, regardless of the country that they live in, can be treated better.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, But the direct consequences of combating the pandemic have not yet places in a position where we can say that our coordination mechanisms are working.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, And that is why the German presidency has decided to place the question of the coordination of our measures at the top of our agenda. And once again, thank you for giving us this opportunity to discuss these matters here today in Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, You all come from different countries in the EU and you know that the reactions in different member states have been different to the crisis in the council. The problem is that we don't yet know whether all ministers will be able to come to this physical meeting.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, Sometimes the national measures that have been adopted are so restrictive that even ministers can't get here. I'm here now. That means that when I go back home on Thursday, I will have to go through several days of quarantine and I will have to submit to various tests on my return.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, And of course, that makes life difficult in other areas. And then I have to be here again next week. So obviously that there are practical consequences of our measures. And I'm not here to talk about politicians. I'm here to talk about what ordinary citizens experience on a daily basis.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, As Mr. Reynders has said, by reintroducing border controls in border regions, we have sometimes imposed very painful experiences on people.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, We have said that we need to protect citizens. But it quickly emerged that the reintroduction of border controls also poses great difficulties for our citizens. And so this is why I have two messages for you.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, First of all, it is, of course, the prerogative of member states to adopt the measures that they deem necessary to protect public health and that they think are appropriate, whether it would be quarantine rules, testing rules, travel restrictions or the introduction of temporary controls at borders.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, But my second message is this. All those measures that member states can adopt and I am speaking here on behalf of the member states, have to be proportionate, non-discriminatory and must be consistent with European law.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, And of course, we need a good dose of pragmatism. After all, at the end of the day, the restrictions must be practicable, implementable, and they shouldn't represent too much of an interference in people's daily lives. So the council is discussing at all levels a closer coordination in the next few weeks.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, The General Affairs Council will be discussing these matters. So not just health ministers, because we know that these measures have enormous political consequences as well as the health consequences.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, And I want to mention a few examples where we have made some progress on the 30th of June. For example, the council adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel in the EU.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, And we also declared that the epidemiological situation in third countries ought to be assessed in a coordinated way between European countries. And on the 4th of September.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, We held an ad hoc meeting of health ministers in order to try to arrive at a basic understanding of how common quarantine and testing rules could work at European level, what such a system might look like, and how we can reconcile this with the practise and competences of member states.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, In this week, the ministers responsible for the internal market will be having a discussion on how unnecessary hindrances to the single market can be removed. And of course, we will be calling on member states not to introduce any new obstacles.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, And of course, we'll be calling on the commission to learn the necessary lessons on the curve from the current crisis so that we will be better equipped in this and in future crises.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, And I hope that we will achieve, in close coordination with the commission, a new series of proposals that will make the single market more resilient.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, And finally, we all, with the commission's latest proposal, the so-called traffic light system with a colour coding system. So we want to have this to assist with the risk classification of certain regions and make this all clearer and more transparent.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, So it's not just kind of individual one-off decision by a particular government. There will be a common coordinated European approach to these risk classification decisions which affect others, of course.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, And, of course, have a coordinated approach, which about two people returning from high risk areas. And of course, I referred to my own personal experience with this earlier on. So we have achieved quite a lot already.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, But the crisis is not over yet. I think we have to learn from the bottlenecks, from our experiences.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, We have to emphasise that the positive, the positive examples that we can build on at the end of the day, freedom of movement, freedom, transparency, lack of internal borders that the EU stands for, it needs to be maintained.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michael ROTH, German Federal Minister of State for Europe and President in office of the Council of the EU, This shouldn't suffer adverse effects from this pandemic. And, of course, that must be the goal for all our institutions.