BRUSSELS – The European Union is considering Beijing’s rollback of its stringent anti-infection controls, but on Thursday refrained from immediately following EU member Italy in requiring coronavirus tests for airline passengers from China.
Health officials from the 27-strong bloc vowed to continue talks on finding a common approach to travel rules. However, the EU executive said that the BF.7 Omicron variant, which is prevalent in China, is already circulating in Europe and that its threat has not increased significantly.
“However, we remain vigilant and will be ready to pull the emergency brake if necessary,” the European Commission said in a statement.
Although virus experts in the EU have downplayed the imminent danger, Italy has made coronavirus testing mandatory for all passengers arriving from China. More than 50% of people screened upon arrival at Milan’s Malpensa airport in recent days have tested positive for the virus.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday increased pressure on the EU to go along with Italy’s move. She said that requiring COVID tests for all passengers from China “is only effective if they are carried out at a European level,” noting that many arrive in Italy with connecting flights through other European countries.
Noting the reluctance of several EU nations and experts, the EU Health Security Committee said in a statement after Thursday’s meeting that “we must act together and we will continue our discussions”.
Holding back was certainly something Germany wanted. “There is no indication that a more dangerous variant has developed in this outbreak in China … which would impose corresponding travel restrictions,” said Health Ministry spokesman Sebastian Guelde.
A coordinated EU approach is necessary as almost all EU member states are part of the visa-free European Schengen area. Unrestricted travel means testing in one country would not be very effective, as Chinese travelers could enter from another EU country and spread the virus.
After severe travel restrictions at the height of the pandemic, the EU returned to a pre-pandemic travel regime this autumn, but member states agreed an “emergency brake” could be activated in the short term to meet an unexpected challenge.
“At a scientific level, there is no reason at this stage to reintroduce specific border controls,” Professor Brigitte Autran, vaccines expert at the French Ministry of Health, told Radio Classique on Thursday.
And even Italy’s health minister came with good news on Thursday. Orazio Schillaci told the Senate in Rome that the sequencing suggests the variants spotted on passengers arriving from China are already circulating in Europe, somewhat easing fears that a new variant from China could be running amok in Europe.
“This is the most important and reassuring message,” said Schillaci.
The United States on Wednesday announced new COVID-19 testing requirements for all travelers from China, joining some Asian nations that have imposed restrictions due to a surge in infections.
Japan requires travelers from China to test negative for COVID-19 upon arrival, and Malaysia announced new tracking and surveillance measures. India, South Korea and Taiwan require virus tests for visitors from China.
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Colleen Barry in Milan and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed reporting.
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