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By Francesco Guarascio
BRUSSELS, Oct 28 (Reuters) - The European Commission
proposed on Wednesday a series of new measures to fight the
COVID-19 pandemic in the European Union, saying the new spike in
infections on the continent was "alarming".
As Europe again becomes the world's epicentre of the
pandemic, the EU executive urged the 27 EU governments to do
more and in a more coordinated fashion against the virus.
"The relaxation of applied measures during the summer months
was not always accompanied by steps to build up sufficient
response capacity," the Commission warned in a statement as part
of its formal proposal to EU governments for action.
To better trace the spread of infections, Brussels said EU
governments should coordinate their testing strategies and make
a larger use of rapid antigen tests, despite the global supply
for these kits is now tightening.
It warned the "current shortfalls in testing capacity"
required swift action.
Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der
Leyen said the EU executive would direct 100 million euros ($118
million) to buy up to 22 million antigen tests to meet EU
countries' "immediate needs". It is now urging states to buy
more through a joint procurement scheme.
It also said states should have common testing requirements
for incoming travellers, including tests at arrival if tests
were not available in the country of departure. It called for
coordinated rules on quarantines.
AVOIDING SHORTAGES
To avoid risks of new shortages of medical equipment, which
dogged the bloc at the beginning of the pandemic in spring, the
Commission said it had launched a joint procurement for gear
needed to inoculate people, such as syringes and disinfectants.
It also extended to April a temporary suspension of customs
duties and sales tax on import of medical equipment.
EU countries could also exempt COVID-19 testing kits and
vaccines from sales tax, the Commission said.
The Commission also repeated its call on EU governments to
quickly devise vaccination strategies so that the most
vulnerable people could quickly access COVID-19 vaccines if and
when effective shots will be available.
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, editing by
Robin Emmott)
