Rapporti verbatim tad-dibattiti

L-Erbgħa, 24 ta' Marzu 2021 - Brussell

17. Tħejjija tal-laqgħa tal-Kunsill Ewropew tal-25 u s-26 ta' Marzu 2021 - Ċertifikat Aħdar Diġitali (dibattitu)

  Presidente. – L'ordine del giorno reca la discussione congiunta sulle dichiarazioni del Consiglio e della Commissione sulla preparazione del Consiglio europeo e il certificato verde digitale (2021/2585(RSP)) (2021/2609(RSP)) .

Ricordo agli onorevoli deputati che per tutte le discussioni di questa tornata non è prevista la procedura "catch-the-eye", né saranno accettate domande "cartellino blu".

Inoltre, come già nelle precedenti tornate, sono previsti interventi a distanza dagli Uffici di collegamento del Parlamento negli Stati membri.

Ringrazio la Ministra Zacarias e il Commissario Šefčovič per la loro presenza in Aula.

  Ana Paula Zacarias, President-in-Office of the Council. – Mr President, while it was initially planned as a physical meeting, President Charles Michel has decided to turn the European Council summit into a video conference in light of the worsening of the COVID situation in several Member States. All points will remain on the agenda, but the item on Russia will be transformed into an information point. In addition, President Michel invited President Biden for an informal exchange of views on our future cooperation with the United States.

One year after the outbreak of the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to dominate the agenda and we face serious challenges following the emergence of new spreads of new variants of the virus. Only vaccines can offer us a way out of the crisis. We need to do our utmost to help boost vaccine production and ensure more transparency, predictability and the supply of vaccines, so that we can speed up the vaccination campaigns across the EU.

To this end, it is fundamental that companies respect their contractual delivery deadlines, and we support the efforts of the European Commission in this endeavour. The current epidemiological situation is still of great concern, but when the time comes to start a gradual return to normal life, we should make sure that we act in a coordinated way. Looking ahead, we want to make sure that we have solutions that work across Member States, and this is fundamental for our citizens, for our societies and for the recovery of our economies.

This way, we welcome the legislation proposed by the European Commission on the Digital Green Certificate. It is also a key element for the European Parliament, and I am glad for this opportunity to discuss this further with you. The Council is ready to move fast in these proposals, so we have the certificate and the system functioning – hopefully – before the summer. This means that these proposals have to be dealt with in a very short framework. We do not have a lot of time, and we have to do this in our two institutions and between our two institutions in a spirit of transparency, cooperation and compromise.

We should aim to reach a political agreement with the European Parliament by May. Work has already started at the Council preparatory bodies, and the Presidency aims to have a negotiating mandate by mid-April. On the content of the proposals, the Presidency believes that the European binding approach was necessary to guarantee common rules on the issuance and acceptance of the certificates and also their interoperability, without making vaccination a precondition to travel within the EU. In fact, a number of our citizens feared being discriminated against under this instrument, as not everyone could be vaccinated or wished to be vaccinated. In this regard, we believe that the Commission took the right approach when it included in this Digital Green Certificate the question of tests and also recovery certificates.

I would like to reiterate the importance of ensuring inclusiveness and of paying attention not to exclude some categories of persons, such as elderly people and those with less access to digital technologies. On data protection, we consider that the principle of data minimisation and the fact that no data will be stored at European level are important guarantees that have been already included in the proposals. Furthermore, national personal data regulations will apply.

Another important aspect to which Member States are attached is the need to ensure this interoperability with the work of the World Health Organization (WHO), and to continue to work in close collaboration with other international bodies. The implementation of an EU framework and national systems will require significant efforts from Member States, as there are many technological challenges. And for this reason, it will be important for them to receive expert technical and financial support from the Commission.

Finally, during the legislative process, we should not underestimate the importance of communicating in the right way on this initiative. The expectations of citizens on reopening Europe for travel will only rise as we approach the adoption of these instruments.

I would like to raise, very briefly, a couple of other points concerning the EU leaders’ video teleconference (VTC).

First, the EU economic response to COVID-19 has been steadfast and unprecedented. The regulation establishing the recovery and resilience facility has entered into force. We now need to implement it swiftly to support an EU-wide recovery in accordance with the new European Semester guidelines and, of course, the leaders will address this issue.

Secondly, they will discuss key elements of our economic base, namely the full functioning of the single market, the resilience and competitiveness of our industry and Europe’s open strategic autonomy. They will also address the question of the digital future, and here it is important to maintain an ambitious approach and ensure the digital transition is inclusive, leaving no one behind.

The leaders will build on the 2030 Digital Compass and on the Digital Services Act package, which has been dealt with in the Council at a very progressive and intensive pace. The leaders will also address digital taxation. The EU stands behind efforts to find a global consensus, but will also be ready to look into a European solution, should there be no progress at international level.

Finally, the leaders will also dedicate time to discussing external relations, in particular, to foster EU-US transatlantic relations and future cooperation through an informal exchange of views with President Biden. This is a very timely debate, taking into consideration the current geostrategic challenges at multilateral level from human rights, as we have seen, to the climate, from health to trade, as well as relations with Beijing and Moscow.

On Russia, the President of the European Council has provided for just an information point for the leaders. This will take place in the context of the continuous negative pattern of shrinking space for the opposition, civil society and independent voices in Russia, which is a source of concern for all of us.

They will also discuss Turkey. On the basis of the recent report by the High Representative and the Commission, they will assess the recent developments and discuss the way forward, including in the light of this recent Turkey withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention.

The leaders will meet on Friday, and at the end of this meeting on Friday, they will have a discussion at the level of the euro summit, and in an inclusive format, they will discuss the international role of the euro, so it will be a very long and productive meeting, I’m sure.

  Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the Commission. – It has now been over a year since Europe went into lockdown and overnight our lives were turned upside down as we put all our energies into fighting this terrible virus, which is causing so much suffering in Europe and around the world. A year of being limited in what we can do, where we can go, whom we can see, with whom we can meet and this all has understandably led to some pandemic fatigue. But now is not the time to take our eye off the ball. Despite some problems with the vaccine procurement and AstraZeneca in particular, which continues to under-deliver, we have good reason to hope that the situation will improve in the second quarter. We expect to receive 200 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 55 million doses of the single jab Johnson & Johnson vaccine and 35 million doses of the Moderna vaccine by the end of the second quarter. This is in addition to the 70 million doses of AstraZeneca currently foreseen, albeit far less than the contractually committed 180 million doses.

If these estimates prove accurate, we should achieve our target of having 70% of Europe’s adult population fully vaccinated by the end of the summer. This is all the more important when we see the worrying developments with the new variants, now representing close to 80% of infections in some countries and to the spectre of the third wave approaching. So, as underlined by President von der Leyen last week, we will use the EU’s export authorisation scheme to bolster transparency and ensure reciprocity and proportionality in our vaccine-related dealings with third countries, especially those which manufacture vaccines themselves.

I would like to be clear. The mechanism is not an export ban. In fact, so far 380 out of 381 requests for an export authorisation have been approved and with 43 million doses exported to 33 countries since the end of January, the EU is the world’s biggest exporter of vaccines. We will continue to act fairly and responsibly and fulfil our global leadership role.

That is also why exports to low and middle-income countries, supplies through COVAX and exports to the EU overseas countries and territories remain unconditionally exempted.

But we need to see fairness and the right balance when assessing the impact of planned exports. This is what the two adjustments to the existing mechanisms adopted today are about – to help us ensure timely access to vaccines for our EU citizens.

As the president emphasised, this is an invitation to be open, because open roads run in both directions. We also need to forge an effective and lasting path towards reopening and recovery, one which fully upholds our fundamental principles of non-discrimination and data protection.

To this end, last week, the Commission put forward a proposal to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate safe, free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be available free of charge, in digital or paper format and QR codes will help ensure its security and authenticity.

The Digital Green Certificate will work in three ways: first, it will offer proof that a person has either being vaccinated, received a recent negative test result or recovered from COVID-19 and thus has antibodies.

Second, it will make sure that this proof is recognised in every Member State and third, the certificate will help Member States to establish full freedom of movement in a safe, responsible and trusted manner. The Commission will build a gateway to ensure all certificates can be verified across the European Union and will support Member States in the technical implementation of certificates. The aim is to have the system in place by June and for this reason we have to ask Parliament to treat this file under the urgent procedure.

We are counting on you. This is also an opportunity to influence global standards and lead by example based on our European values. The certificate is only part of our efforts towards a gradual safe and lasting reopening.

Last week we also adopted the communication laying out what is needed to achieve this, including a common framework for response measures and measures covering testing treatments and vaccine sharing. The communication also covered support for the tourism and cultural sectors and continued support for global efforts to combat the pandemic and announce the future EU strategy on COVID-19 therapeutics.

Also, last week, we adopted the recommendation on the use of waste water monitoring to track COVID-19 and its variants. Waste water monitoring has proven to be an effective, reliable and relatively cheap way to identify the presence of the virus, allowing for its earlier detection.

And finally, we will issue a ‘Lessons learned’ communication in June as requested by the European Council.

Moving on from COVID-19 matters, the Commission, together with the High Representative prepared a report on the state of play on political, economic and trade relations between the EU and Turkey. On this basis, leaders will give guidance on the way forward. It is clear that we must resolve our differences through dialogue and constructive credible steps on the ground. We therefore deeply regret Turkey’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention and urge that this be reversed.

Finally, on 9 March the Commission set out its digital vision and goals for 2030. It proposed a digital compass setting out ambitious targets for digital skills, digital infrastructure, the digital transformation of businesses and the digitisation of public administration. In addition, it will guide our international digital partnership.

We will also accelerate our work on the regulatory framework to accompany the Digital Transition. Later this year we will present further proposals on artificial intelligence, European digital identity and the single market for data.

The third taxation of the digital economy is also a priority and we remain committed to finding a global solution on the reform of the corporate taxation framework by mid-2021 with our partners in the OECD. And we are optimistic about this process. But whatever its outcome, the Commission is committed to adopting a proposal on a digital levy by the end of the semester with a view to it becoming a new own resource.

I can assure you that we can and we will design a digital levy, which is compatible with the OECD process. I will stop here, honourable Members, and I look forward to your questions.

  Manfred Weber, on behalf of the PPE Group. – We are in the middle of the third wave, and Europeans are dying every day. There are a lot of concerns outside, a lot of people are afraid, even scared. We have new lockdown measures all over Europe and a severe economic crisis, probably the biggest since the Second World War.

That’s why our main message to the Council is: please stick together, please act together – we need unity in this critical moment of European history. Stop playing games, and we together have to do whatever we can do to vaccinate as many Europeans as soon as possible. That’s why the increase of production capacities is key. We really appreciate the work of Thierry Bretton in this regard.

The certificate is a good step. I from PPE Group point of view can already clarify that we are in favour of a fast-track procedure, we want to bring this certificate as quick as possible alive. But allow me to also express that the idea of a certificate is not a new idea. We already discussed it in autumn last year.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis already presented this in Council in January this year, and now we are in March, and the Commission is coming forward with a proposal. I like the proposal, but it is too late. And now you’re coming with a fast-track procedure. Normally, we all should really speed up in this process.

The most important thing is that we have to keep our summer promise to offer every European a vaccination. The credibility of the European Union is already under pressure. We know this, and that’s why this promise is about trust; we have to deliver whatever it takes.

I’m also proud, like a lot of colleagues - I think, about the reality, and the situation that we share the vaccines with the rest of the world. But we have to see the reality – the rest of the world is not doing the same. The rest of the world is egoistic. The rest of the world is cold. And that’s why we Europeans should not be naive. That’s why I, on behalf of the PPE Group, welcome the revision of the export authorisation mechanism; reciprocity and proportionality are key criteria for the future.

We’ve sent 9 million vaccines to the UK, and they’ve delivered zero. We’ve sent more vaccines in the last three months to the UK than we have given to Spain. Dear colleagues, that is a reality, and that’s why we need to be loud and clear – the priority must be the European Union, the priority for the next month must be the Europeans. We cannot not endanger the lives and health of our fellow citizens anymore.

The implementation is now key. We see now the news from AstraZeneca. 29 million doses stockpiled in in Italy. I don’t know about the background but we need immediate clarification on this. If this is true, Vice-President, then I think the Commission must immediately prepare a breach of contract procedure as regards AstraZeneca. I would also say that it is unthinkable that we from now on export any kind of doses from AstraZeneca to the rest of the world until the company is ready to fulfil the contract, which they have with the European Union.

The export has another element which I want to mention, and that is about the question of who gets then the doses. We’ve sent to Saudi Arabia more doses in the last three months than to the Baltic countries combined. Northern Macedonia has the highest death rate per capita in the world, and they get zero doses from Europe. Zero currently.

Today the decision who gets the exported vaccines is a business question. It is decided at international level by headquarters of big companies, of pharmaceutical companies, but it is not decided by the question where is the biggest need, and by geopolitical questions like the region of Northern Macedonia. That is not a criteria currently, and that’s why we have to go further. We spend money for COVAX, but we have no vaccines for COVAX. That is the reality today, and that’s why we need a general revision of this procedure of the European Union. We are not in normal times.

I want to also focus on external affairs. I want to thank our President David Sassoli and all colleagues who contributed now to the China developments. From a Chinese point of view, some colleagues see now sanctions. I say, they’re our heroes in the fight for human rights, and I applaud them, they have so full support of the whole Chamber and we are proud of them that they are doing such a great job.

The same guiding principle that we fight for the European way of life, for human rights, freedom, democracy, rule of law, equal treatment of men and women in regard to Turkey. That’s why we welcome also the statement of the Commission towards Turkey.

That is a step in the right direction.

And on Russia, let me underline that there is a need, obviously again, to discuss Nord Stream 2 when Joe Biden is there. This House was always clear in the last years that is not in the interests of the European Union. Nord Stream 2 harms our neighbours like the Ukraine, like our Ukrainian friends, and gas is financing the Putin system, which is not in the interest of the European Union. That’s why Nord Stream 2 is not a business case at all. We need a political discussion on this.

That is at stake when it is about the decision of the European Council, and if you allow me finally, Mr President, I know that we have tomorrow a discussion about Malta. I only want to express, having in mind that Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered years ago, because she simply did her job in the fight against corruption, and her weapon was her pen.

Having this in mind that now of one murders said publicly that two ministers were involved in Malta in this process, I think that is an issue which we all have to be aware of and have to be concerned about. I say today because I wish that, for once, the European Council would also have the strength to discuss these rule of law questions also in the format of the Council, and not just leave it to the Commission.

  Iratxe García Pérez, en nombre del Grupo S&D. – Señor presidente, el retraso en la vacunación y la llegada de la cuarta ola amenazan con retrasar el objetivo de la Unión Europea de recuperar la normalidad antes del verano. Afrontamos un horizonte sombrío. Si confiábamos en la distribución de 160 millones de dosis durante el primer trimestre, la realidad nos recuerda que se han repartido 70 millones. Y, además, hoy nos desayunamos con la noticia —por todos conocida— de que se han encontrado escondidas en algún lugar de Italia 30 millones de dosis de vacunas de AstraZeneca. Y permítanme que les diga que esto ya es la gota que colma el vaso.

Porque no estamos hablando de que se estén incumpliendo los contratos y los compromisos que habían asumido; es que se están riendo en nuestra cara y no podemos permitirlo como europeos. Ya no es el momento de sentarnos a hablar, de discutir, de ver de qué manera se puede solucionar, ¡no! Es el momento de presentar con firmeza actuaciones contra una compañía farmacéutica que está acabando con el prestigio del resto de compañías que sí que están cumpliendo con sus compromisos o que, por lo menos, lo están intentando. Así es que le pido a la Comisión que se ponga manos a la obra para actuar ante este ataque tan flagrante a los compromisos que habían adquirido.

Yo estoy de acuerdo con que la prohibición de las exportaciones ni es ni puede ser la solución, porque, además, es muy poco inteligente y pondríamos en peligro la cadena de suministros. Pero también digo que la revisión anunciada hoy del mecanismo del control de exportaciones llega tarde, porque resulta inaceptable que el Reino Unido haya recibido 10 millones de dosis fabricadas en territorio de la Unión Europea, mientras que el Gobierno de Boris Johnson no ha enviado ni una sola vacuna a nuestro mercado interior.

Por lo tanto, aquí estamos hablando de algo muy importante, que es cumplir con los objetivos y también no acabar con el prestigio, no de la Comisión Europea ⸻aquí no estamos hablando del prestigio de la Comisión Europea⸻, sino de la Unión Europea. Todos hemos apoyado la estrategia europea de vacunación, pero tenemos que hacer las cosas bien porque, si no, la gente dejará de confiar en Europa.

No podemos resignarnos a que una segunda primavera negra recorra Europa. El próximo trimestre será clave: si la distribución de dosis no se acelera, afrontaremos un escenario explosivo, con un incremento de contagios y una población cada vez más angustiada, a la que tenemos que entender. Las últimas medidas presentadas por la Comisión Europea son un paso positivo: el certificado verde digital y el sello sanitario voluntario para el turismo y la hostelería son iniciativas adecuadas para coordinar la reapertura y garantizar los desplazamientos seguros. Pero el regreso de la libre circulación solo será un triunfo si antes se cumple con el objetivo más apremiante, que es el de acelerar las vacunas.

Con una respuesta lenta frente a la pandemia, no solo se pierden vidas: se desvanece el sueño de una rápida recuperación económica y corremos el riesgo de vivir en sociedades atrapadas por la ansiedad, por el pánico, por la depresión. Hace un año que estamos en esta situación y hemos pedido muchos sacrificios a las personas. Todos tenemos hermanos que han tenido que cerrar un negocio; amigos que han perdido a su padre y a su madre en menos de quince días; hijos o sobrinos adolescentes a los que hemos abocado a que su vida social se remita a las cuatro paredes de su habitación. Necesitamos ser conscientes de lo mucho que nos estamos jugando.

Y junto a la vacunación, tenemos la enorme tarea de garantizar también que los 750 000 millones de euros del Fondo de Recuperación se ejecuten con rapidez. Siete Estados miembros todavía no han presentado a la Comisión sus planes de recuperación y catorce no han ratificado los recursos propios. Quiero recordar que nos metían prisa a este Parlamento, que teníamos que actuar y desbloquear la situación, y ahora han pasado meses y tenemos todavía que poner en marcha esta ratificación de los recursos propios. Así es que les pedimos celeridad a los Estados miembros para que lo hagan. Una recuperación tardía también comprometerá el papel de la Unión Europea en un mundo cada vez más multipolar y con menos multilateralismo.

Ante Gobiernos que, como el de Turquía, priorizan la confrontación frente a la cooperación, debemos actuar al mismo tiempo con firmeza y con diálogo. Con firmeza cuando vulneran los derechos humanos en suelo turco y de la Unión Europea; y con diálogo cuando los intereses de nuestros ciudadanos están en juego. El intento de Erdogan de ilegalizar el Partido Democrático de los Pueblos y su decisión de retirar a Turquía del Convenio de Estambul no puede quedar impune.

Tras un año de pandemia ha quedado claro que, si queremos superar esta crisis, debemos dedicar toda nuestra energía a la campaña de vacunación y a la puesta en marcha del Plan de Recuperación. En lugar de desperdiciar el tiempo, háganse la siguiente pregunta: ¿la Unión Europea saldrá reforzada o debilitada de la pandemia? La respuesta no está en el infinito, sino en ustedes mismos.

  Katalin Cseh, on behalf of the Renew Group. – Mr President, right now we are at a make-or-break moment in our pandemic response. Just think back to the early days of the pandemic – to where we were a year ago. We had 27 Member States with 27 different strategies. We saw people piled up at borders. We saw a shortage of medicines, a shortage of food. These are sights that were unimaginable to witness in Europe in the 21st century. And let’s acknowledge that we’ve come very far from there and we chose the right path, the path to pursue a joint European response, because this is the only way we can get out of the crisis together.

But let’s also learn from what went wrong. Right now we have a chance with the Digital Green Certificate to do that and also to hear the voice of our citizens, because many millions of Europeans are eager to get their lives back and also their livelihood. That very often depends on tourism, on transport, on cross-border trade. But there are also other voices who are afraid about how their data is being used or if they are being discriminated against. So we also have to hear that voice as well.

So this is why this Parliament will continue to be the voice of those 450 million citizens. We are elected by them and we will do everything in our power to help them in this crucial situation. And we have to understand what’s at stake here, because in the problems witnessed around vaccine procurement, the European Union risks becoming the number one scapegoat. We risk becoming the prey of Euroscepticism, of those powers who work against the stability of our Union and who prey on this crucial moment where many people in Europe are living their darkest hours. Right now a lot of citizens, frontline workers, really suffer from the COVID response. They are struggling and they need us.

We need to speed up vaccination. This is the only light at the end of the tunnel. So this is why I am so glad to see the efforts of Thierry Breton, who really does an amazing job, offering us some good news and some clarity as well, and we need to continue further with this plan. We need to increase the production capacities, to set up more ambitious targets for deliveries, to work together with manufacturers and also to ramp up production. These are the crucial steps we have to follow.

And in the wake of these troubles, just as another leader said before me, I was also so shocked to learn about the 29 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses that are stockpiled. How can they even justify that? We are racing against time. This debate was never about the United Kingdom, for me it’s about a specific company not honouring its contractual commitments and the Commission really needs to make sure whatever it takes to enforce these commitments in the name of our citizens.

Lastly, let me briefly talk about another issue that’s not on the Council agenda and that I’m very sorry for. We just heard about it from the President of the Parliament. And we all know that only three days before the Council meeting China slapped sanctions on elected European officials and public bodies, academics, representatives, our very own Subcommittee on Human Rights – even a Council committee is on China’s list – only for speaking up for human rights. We have to respond, and it has to come from the 27 national leaders who say with one voice that we will never be bullied.

We need to be clear. Our comprehensive investment deal has to be off the table as long as we see no meaningful progress in the treatment of Uyghurs and Hong Kong’s pro—democracy movement. And no product will enter a market that is tainted by the suffering of people who are held in prison camps.

Colleagues, we are the European Union. Our entire history, our entire purpose rests on the promotion of peace and human rights and we will never stay silent in the face of such brutality. So this is my message also to the Chinese Communist Party, and this is the message I also expect to hear from the Council tomorrow.

  Nicolas Bay, au nom du groupe ID. – Monsieur le Président, la prochaine réunion du Conseil abordera notamment les relations de l’Union européenne avec les États-Unis, puis avec la Russie, avec toutefois une légère différence de traitement puisque le président américain, Joe Biden, sera, lui, présent par visioconférence pour échanger directement avec les chefs d’État et de gouvernement européens.

On aurait aimé le même empressement il y a quatre ans pour dialoguer avec Donald Trump, mais il est vrai, et c’est navrant, que l’élection de Biden fut un soulagement pour les institutions européennes, tellement heureuses de pouvoir se placer à nouveau dans le sillage – et même, pourrait-on dire, sous la tutelle – de Washington.

Il est bien sûr légitime d’entretenir de bonnes relations avec les États-Unis, un pays ami, un allié et un partenaire de premier plan. Mais ils sont aussi nos compétiteurs. Ils sont nos rivaux sur le terrain économique et commercial, en particulier, et parfois leurs intérêts ou leurs choix s’opposent frontalement aux nôtres – comme on le voit avec leur alliance contre nature avec la Turquie ou encore leur position sur le nucléaire iranien.

Mais il y a fort à parier que les échanges avec Joe Biden porteront principalement – une fois encore, d’ailleurs – sur la Russie. Sans doute de nouvelles sanctions seront-elles évoquées au nom d’un droit-de-l’hommisme devenu fou qui est brandi également de manière quasi religieuse pour s’en prendre à certains pays d’Europe centrale.

La Russie est pourtant un partenaire naturel pour l’Europe, comme l’a récemment illustré la question du gazoduc Nord Stream 2. Il est compréhensible que l’histoire récente reste traumatique pour certains pays d’Europe de l’Est, mais la Russie d’aujourd’hui n’est pas l’URSS d’hier.

Il n’est pas question de se jeter dans les bras de Moscou pour passer d’une tutelle à une autre, mais de trouver un équilibre entre l’Ouest et l’Est. L’Europe peut et doit exister par elle-même et pour elle-même. Qu’il s’agisse d’économie, d’industrie, du numérique, de la santé ou encore du terrorisme, nous devons répondre par des coopérations et par des protections sans nous perdre dans un pseudo multilatéralisme qui rime bien souvent avec impuissance.

On reste, Monsieur Šefčovič, abasourdi en vous entendant déclarer hier , je cite: «Nous avons été ouverts et généreux. Maintenant, nous invitons nos partenaires à être aussi ouverts et transparents que nous.» Mais quelle naïveté confondante de la Commission! À laquelle s’ajoute, d’ailleurs, l’incompétence sur le fiasco des vaccins qui en a été la dernière démonstration. À l’évidence, les orientations politiques comme le mode de fonctionnement actuel de l’Union européenne ne sont pas à la hauteur des grands défis que nous devons relever collectivement.

  Philippe Lamberts, au nom du groupe Verts/ALE. – Monsieur le Président, chers collègues, je voudrais d’abord m’adresser à mon prédécesseur, Monsieur Bay. Je ne pense pas, Monsieur Bay, que si le gouvernement français avait signé séparément un contrat avec AstraZeneca, il aurait été dans de meilleurs draps aujourd’hui. Autrement dit, aller pointer du doigt la Commission européenne parce qu’un fournisseur privé – j’insiste là- dessus – est incapable, infoutu ou n’a pas envie de satisfaire à ses obligations contractuelles, je trouve ça juste un peu facile.

Je voudrais vous dire, chers collègues, que nous avons tous envie – et pas seulement nos concitoyens – de retrouver le plus vite possible toutes nos libertés. L’Union européenne est un continent de libertés, une union de libertés, et c’est vrai que ces libertés ont été gravement handicapées à cause du COVID. Nous avons besoin aussi de mettre un peu d’ordre, parce qu’il est clair que lorsqu’on écoute les collègues qui doivent voyager – c’est moins mon cas, mais vous êtes nombreux ici à devoir voyager –, différents certificats sont demandés en passant d’un pays à l’autre, c’est quand même un petit peu le désordre. Il faut mettre de l’ordre dans tout ça.

Dernier élément important: on dit souvent que les pays du sud ont besoin de la saison touristique. Non: c’est l’Union européenne qui a besoin qu’on ne manque pas cette saison touristique; autrement dit, il y a évidemment la possibilité pour les Européens de se détendre, mais économiquement, l’impact sur les pays du sud de manquer la saison touristique est colossal, et aurait pour effet d’augmenter énormément les divergences au sein de la zone euro. Autrement dit, c’est dans notre intérêt à tous que cette saison touristique soit sauvée.

Alors, est-ce que ce fameux certificat vert est une solution à cela? Peut-être, moyennant un certain nombre de conditions. D’abord, il faudrait qu’on ait une base scientifique: si nous ne sommes même pas sûrs qu’une personne vaccinée n’est plus contagieuse, alors je ne vois pas très bien de quoi on parle, parce que donner le certificat en ignorant si la personne peut transmettre le virus, c’est quelque part se donner un faux sentiment de sécurité.

Deuxième élément, que Katalin Cseh a mentionné, c’est celui de la discrimination. À juste titre, la Commission nous parle d’un certificat qui couvre aussi bien la vaccination que le fait d’avoir guéri de l’infection et le fait d’avoir subi un test négatif. C’est très bien, mais rien ne garantit dans le texte que les États membres ne discrimineront pas en fonction de la situation dans laquelle la personne se trouve. Nous ne pouvons pas, par la porte de derrière, faire d’un vaccin dont chacun dit ici qu’il doit être libre une obligation de facto pour que nos citoyens puissent avoir droit à une vie normale.

Troisième élément et troisième condition, c’est le respect de la vie privée. Autant je comprends tout à fait que l’autorité publique doive pouvoir vérifier l’authenticité d’un certificat, autant je ne comprends pas que l’on puisse donner aux États la possibilité, par exemple, de collecter les données sur qui a utilisé un certificat, quand et où. Il n’y a aucune raison que les États sachent et puissent nous suivre à la trace. On est déjà entré dans l’ère du capitalisme de surveillance, j’aimerais bien qu’en tout cas, on ne s’inspire pas de la Chine pour arriver à l’ère de l’état de surveillance généralisée.

Dernier élément, si on met en place ce certificat, il faut qu’il soit limité à la fois dans le temps et dans l’espace. Autrement dit, pas question de l’étendre à des usages pour lesquels il n’est pas prévu. J’ai donc envie de dire, chers collègues, monsieur le Président, et je conclus là-dessus, que chaque fois qu’il s’agit d’arbitrer entre la sécurité – en l’occurrence, la sécurité sanitaire – et la liberté, ce sont des questions qui doivent faire l’objet d’un débat démocratique approfondi et d’une délibération publique. Autrement dit, s’engager dans une procédure d’urgence, qui de facto limite drastiquement les possibilités pour ce Parlement d’exercer ses responsabilités de délibération démocratique, est une erreur colossale. La méfiance démocratique de nos citoyens à l’égard de nos institutions, et pas seulement des institutions européennes, n’a fait que croître. N’alimentons pas cela.

  Raffaele Fitto, a nome del gruppo ECR. – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, un anno fa la pandemia colpiva per la prima volta il nostro continente, mettendo a dura prova i nostri sistemi sanitari, provocando milioni di lutti, cambiando il nostro modo di vivere e imponendo restrizioni a cittadini e imprese.

Ora siamo nel pieno di una terza ondata: la situazione epidemiologica sta peggiorando notevolmente, con un forte aumento del numero di infezioni e di ricoveri e la prevalenza della nuova variante britannica. Diversi Stati membri hanno annunciato o sono in procinto di annunciare nuovi lockdown parziali o totali.

La risposta dell'Unione europea sembra lenta e non efficace. La campagna vaccinale stenta a decollare; l'obiettivo di vaccinare la stragrande maggioranza della popolazione europea prima dell'estate sembra essere lontano; il sentimento di sfiducia cresce nei nostri cittadini; interi settori non sanno ancora quando potranno riprendere la loro attività.

È il momento di un vero cambio di passo, di risposte concrete sul rispetto dei contratti, sull'approvvigionamento, sul miglioramento della capacità produttiva e logistica, nonché reciprocità e proporzionalità nello scambio di vaccini con paesi terzi.

I vaccini sono le uniche armi che abbiamo per contenere e sconfiggere il virus, recuperare la nostra quotidianità e permettere una vera e duratura ripresa dell'economia europea. Una ripresa che deve avere al centro le imprese, in particolare le piccole e medie imprese, e per far questo occorre innanzitutto rivedere le regole della governance economica: meno austerità, più investimenti, preservare e rilanciare il mercato unico con meno burocrazia e un contesto normativo in grado di garantire lo sviluppo e la competitività delle nostre economie, evitando squilibri e asimmetrie.

A tal proposito, positivo il certificato verde digitale, proposto dalla Commissione per ripristinare pienamente la libera circolazione delle persone e per far ripartire soprattutto il settore turistico. Ma a condizione che sia approvato tempestivamente prima dell'estate e strutturato e implementato efficacemente per evitare che si creino disparità di trattamento all'interno dell'Unione europea e siano tutelati i dati sensibili, ma soprattutto per permettere al settore turistico e a tutte le attività a esso connesse di programmare la stagione estiva e favorire la ripresa economica e occupazionale.

Questa crisi ha dimostrato che nel passato troppo spesso sono state compiute scelte che ci hanno reso dipendenti da altri: occorre lavorare per una autonomia strategica, per tutte le tecnologie fondamentali delle catene del valore e dei sistemi industriali più sensibili. La transizione digitale può essere un importante strumento per il rilancio delle nostre economie e la creazione e trasformazione di nuovi posti di lavoro. Ma occorre al tempo stesso che nessuno venga lasciato indietro e siano garantiti i nostri valori e soprattutto la nostra sicurezza.

Per far questo occorre un'Unione europea credibile, e non subalterna, sullo scenario internazionale. Nel Mediterraneo orientale occorre un cambiamento rispetto alla politica del recente passato nei confronti della Turchia: sì al dialogo, ma basta essere sottomessi ai ricatti e alle azioni prevaricatorie di Erdoğan. Il suo tentativo egemonico nel Mediterraneo va fermato in maniera chiara e decisa.

Al tempo stesso, occorre che l'Unione europea e gli Stati membri delineino una nuova strategia per le relazioni con la Russia, basata sul promuovere i valori democratici, lo Stato di diritto, le libertà fondamentali e i diritti umani. È necessario evitare missioni diplomatiche disastrose, come quella recentemente svolta dall'Alto rappresentante Borrell a Mosca, così come è necessario discutere in modo chiaro e definitivo del progetto Nord Stream 2 in questo Parlamento.

Sono questi i punti salienti che noi, come gruppo dei Conservatori, portiamo all'attenzione del Consiglio e ci auguriamo che su questo ci vengano date risposte chiare.

  Martin Schirdewan, im Namen der Fraktion The Left. – Herr Präsident! Während in der EU im Schneckentempo geimpft wird, rast die dritte Welle der Pandemie ungebrochen auf uns zu.

Mehr als 500 000 EU-Bürgerinnen und -Bürger sind mittlerweile an Corona verstorben, jeden Tag kommen viele hunderte dazu. Die Existenz von Millionen Europäerinnen und Europäern ist bedroht, die Wirtschaft ist in der EU im letzten Jahr um bis zu 8 % eingebrochen. Wir befinden uns in einer historischen Krise, die politische Verantwortung verlangt – doch daran fehlt es. Das Unbehagen wächst in der Bevölkerung mit dem Gefühl, dass die EU führungs- und verantwortungslos durch diese Pandemie taumelt.

Die Kommission hat Fehler zugegeben. Aber warum, Herr Šefčovič, werden diese nicht korrigiert? Veröffentlichen Sie alle Verträge mit den Pharmakonzernen. Geben Sie endlich die Patente frei, dann können die Impfstoffe mit allen global verfügbaren Produktionskapazitäten hergestellt werden. Entwickeln Sie eine gemeinsame europäische Strategie, wie man gegen das Virus vorgeht, wie man den Gesundheitsschutz koordiniert und wie man die sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Folgen für die Bevölkerung eindämmt.

Sie haben sich von den Big-Pharma-Unternehmen abhängig gemacht und vertrauen auf den Markt. Aber dass der Markt gar nichts regelt, beweist der heutige Fall von AstraZeneca, wo 29 Millionen Dosen in Italien gehortet wurden und heute zufällig gefunden worden sind. Und Sie beweisen es auch selbst, indem vorerst keine Impfstoffe an den Globalen Süden geliefert werden sollen, und gleichzeitig reden Sie von einem Impfstoff-Exportstopp. Aber Ihnen ist auch klar, dass es bei einem Exportstopp auch zu Vergeltungsmaßnahmen kommen kann – was wiederum bedeutet, dass die Impfstoffproduktion in der EU selbst dadurch zu Schaden kommen kann, und das Ergebnis ist, dass am Ende alle schlechter dastehen und niemandem geholfen ist. Wollte man Ihnen, der Kommission, eine Schulnote geben, hieße es: Europäische Kommission – fünf minus, sitzen geblieben.

Nun also der europäische Impfpass. Solange nicht alle Europäerinnen und Europäer die Chance gehabt haben, geimpft zu werden, darf diese Bescheinigung nicht dazu führen, dass die Ausübung von Grundrechten vom Impfstatus abhängt. Der Schutz sensibler Gesundheitsdaten muss gewährleistet und eine Abhängigkeit von Big Data verhindert werden.

Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, aus all diesen genannten Gründen appelliere ich hier an Sie: Schließen Sie sich der Forderung meiner Fraktion nach einem parlamentarischen Untersuchungsausschuss zur Impfstrategie an. Wir brauchen keinen Exportstopp von Impfstoffen, wir brauchen aber sehr wohl – und ich richte meinen Blick jetzt auf die Türkei – einen sofortigen Waffenexportstopp an das Regime Erdoğan. Es ist unerträglich, wie dieser Autokrat gehätschelt wird. Gleichzeitig provoziert der Sultan Erdoğan weiter im östlichen Mittelmeer, verfolgt die demokratische Opposition, will die HDP verbieten und tritt aus dem Frauenschutzabkommen – der Istanbul-Konvention – aus.

Wir sagen: Schluss mit dem EU-Türkei-Deal und Ja zu einer humanen, solidarischen Migrationspolitik. Joe Biden wird an der Ratssitzung teilnehmen, und natürlich kann man jetzt nach Trump auch wieder über eine gemeinsame Politik nachdenken. Das darf aber nicht dazu führen, dass die Welt in eine neue Blockkonfrontation mit einem neuen kalten Krieg getrieben wird. Europäische Souveränität heißt auch, eine selbständige Politik gegenüber Russland und China, aber auch gegenüber den USA selbst zu entwickeln.

  Edina Tóth (NI). – Tisztelt Elnök Úr! 56%, 45%, 25%, 9%. Ha nem a koronavírus-járvány harmadik hullámának kellős közepén lennénk, ezek a számok semmit nem jelentenének. Most azonban minden egyes szám mögött emberéletek vannak. A számok makacs dolgok, így ebben az esetben is megmutatják, hogy áll Izrael, Nagy-Britannia, az USA és az EU a koronavírus elleni harcban. A szomorú uniós eredményeket látva úgy gondolom, hogy az EU-nak a jelenleg legégetőbb problémára, mégpedig a vakcina beszerzésére kellene koncentrálnia. Fontos, hogy az Unió minél gyorsabban, minél több vakcinát szerezzen be, hiszen a nagy átoltottság jelenti az egyedüli kiutat a koronavírus világjárványból.

A brüsszeli intézmények azonban még most is ideológiai jogalkotásba kezdenek a vakcinaútlevéllel kapcsolatban. Szeretném hangsúlyozni, hogy polgárainknak most nem diszkriminatív vakcinaútlevélre, hanem vakcinára van szükségük!

PRESIDENZA: ROBERTA METSOLA
Viċi President

  Esther de Lange (PPE). – Madam President, one and a half minutes, of course, is not enough to really give you a picture of what’s going on in our Member States, in our homes, in our hospitals. But one thing I know for sure, if I were to say to my sister, who is currently preparing in our hospital for the third wave of this pandemic, that there are 29 million doses of AstraZeneca standing around in Italy, she would tell me, please, do whatever it takes to get these vaccines into arms, in order not to have this rhythm of another wave followed by another etc. Our hospital personnel are tired. We are tired and do whatever it takes.

So this is why we, as the EPP Group and I, support the proposed strengthened exports authorisation mechanism. This is what we need at the moment and

  Heléne Fritzon (S&D). – Fru talman, rådet och kommissionen! Mer än ett år har gått sedan covid-19-pandemin drabbade världen, och miljoner människor har dött. Genom särskilda insatser och internationellt samarbete har man lyckats utveckla flera vacciner på väldigt kort tid. Så långt är det bra. Flera medlemsstater står nu emellertid inför en tredje våg av pandemin, och vaccinleveranserna är försenade eller till och med uteblir.

Det är uppenbart att kommissionen behöver göra mer för att pressa läkemedelsföretagen att leva upp till avtalen. Vaccinleveranserna måste säkras, och produktionen av vaccin måste öka. Vi ska inte ha ett handelskrig, men vårt löfte till medborgarna i EU om vaccin i sommar måste uppfyllas. Då är tiden viktig. Tid är vår viktigaste faktor. EU-samarbetet måste fortsätta och samordningen måste förbättras. Det är bara samarbete och solidaritet som är vägen ut ur krisen.

Jag välkomnar förslaget om ett gemensamt vaccinintyg inom EU. Familjer har splittrats över gränserna. Arbetare har inte kunnat ta sig till sina jobb över gränserna. Den fria rörligheten inom EU måste återställas så fort som möjligt. Det handlar om jobben. Det handlar om turismen. Det handlar om återhämtningen för vårt Europa.

  Dita Charanzová (Renew). – Paní předsedající, pane komisaři, rok žijeme s onemocněním COVID-19. Dvanáct měsíců, kdy se udělala spousta dobré práce, skvělých věcí, ale také celá řada chyb.

Máme vakcínu. I díky podpoře Evropské unie neobvykle rychle. A máme objednávky na množství vakcín, které by zajistily očkování pro dvě Evropy. Ale zatím jen na papíře. Tam nikoho neochrání. Objektivně nás čeká ještě pár těžkých měsíců. A pokud nenavýšíme produkci vakcín, bude takových měsíců více. Těžko se mi vysvětluje lidem, že jsme z Evropy vyvezli více než 40 milionů vakcín, když sami nemáme čím očkovat. Těžko se mi vysvětluje, proč některé části Evropské unie mají vakcín více než jiné.

Pane komisaři, v očkovací strategii píšete: „Distribuce bude probíhat na základě přepočtu na obyvatele, aby byl zajištěn spravedlivý přístup.“ To se ale dnes neděje. A je třeba to urychleně řešit. Zajistit férový přístup, rovný přístup všech zemí Evropské unie k vakcínám. Těžko se mi vysvětluje, jak je možné, že například v Izraeli se už život vrátil do starých kolejí. A tak se ptám: Jak je možné, že se v Evropě udělalo tolik chyb a že situace u nás je zcela odlišná od té v řadě zemí světa?

Teď máme na stole projekt zelených certifikátů. Ano, mohou bezpečně otevřít hranice Evropské unie, mohou být vstupenkou do normálního života. V rámci Evropské unie, ale i v rámci každého členského státu. Tak prosím doveďme tento projekt k životu. Nedopusťme, aby si opět každý členský stát hledal jen své vlastní řešení.

  Marco Campomenosi (ID). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, signor Commissario, signora Ministra, io sto assistendo nel mio Paese a un dibattito che è serio, importante e drammatico ma anche un po' surreale.

Sugli errori commessi dalla Commissione europea, mi dicono, "beh, ha poche competenze, serve più Europa". Sugli errori commessi – perché li hanno commessi –dalle regioni del mio Paese, dove anche il mio partito è al governo, dicono "no, hanno troppe competenze, bisogna togliergliele".

Ecco, io credo che dobbiamo tutti avere un po' più di equilibrio e che chi sbaglia debba pagare. Vi informo, e credo lo sappiate, che chi nel mio Paese ha sbagliato sta pagando, sia a livello tecnico che politico. Mi piacerebbe vedere anche alla Commissione europea qualcuno pagare o dimettersi, perché se ci stiamo lamentando di questi contratti verso cui tutti noi insieme abbiamo chiesto maggiore trasparenza sin dall'inizio e con fatica abbiamo potuto visionarli, beh qualcuno deve darci delle risposte.

Benissimo attaccare le big pharma e tutti i produttori, benissimo, sono assolutamente d'accordo, ma cerchiamo una soluzione perché qua fuori la gente, che è preoccupata, non sta a vedere se io sono della maggioranza o all'opposizione: vogliono risposte da tutti noi insieme, possibilmente magari con lo stile del governo italiano attuale, che parla meno e cerca di fare un po' di più.

  Jordi Solé (Verts/ALE). – Madam President, I welcome the proposal for a Digital Green Certificate. We need one common EU instrument to facilitate safe mobility for travel and not 27 different approaches and instruments, and I’m sure that everyone is aware of the need to safely resume travel and promote tourism, a sector terribly affected by this pandemic. Let me just give you a figure: the GDP of the Balearic Islands fell by nearly 24% last year.

So our economies, especially those more reliant on tourism and the service sector, are very much looking forward to this instrument, and for good reasons. We need to make sure that the certificate has the highest guarantees in terms of data protection, non—discrimination and time limits. But we also need to deliver in time for the summer holidays. We cannot allow ourselves to make further mistakes when dealing with the COVID—19 pandemic at EU level.

  Roberts Zīle (ECR). – Sēdes vadītāja, komisāra kungs, ministres kundze! Zaļais sertifikāts ir instruments, kas nodrošinās labāku iziešanu no pandēmijas un būs īpaši svarīgs tūrisma un transporta nozarēm, bet ne pašlaik un ne tādā saturā un tādā formā. Pirmkārt, vakcinēšana Eiropas Savienībā ir tik zemā līmenī, ka vasaras tūrisma sezonas sākumā, uz jūniju, mēs varam plānot – labi, ja uz 30 % no tā, ko mēs cenšamies sasniegt, — 70% sezonās beigās, tas ir, agrā rudenī.

Otrkārt, pielīdzināt testus pārējiem veidiem kā vakcīnai vai arī antivielām pēc slimības gadījumā neatbilst tam rezultātam, jo tas nepasargā no vīrusa pārnešanas, gan ceļotājam aizbraucot uz tūrisma vietu, gan atgriežoties mājzemē, kas nozīmē, ka dažādi vīrusa paveidi tiks transmitēti, un tas nozīmē papildu slodzi uz dalībvalstīm, īpaši vājo dalībvalstu veselības sistēmām, un arī to, ka pandēmijas ierobežojumi pagarinās. Komisāra kungs, mēs cenšamies iegūt laiku un ekonomikas atlabšanu, bet, ja steigsimies, notiks pretējais — ilgākas un smagākas sekas gan veselības sistēmām, gan ekonomikai kopumā Eiropas Savienībā.

  Özlem Demirel (The Left). – Frau Präsidentin! Ich muss ehrlich gestehen: Die Haltung der EU und der Biden-Administration gegenüber Herrn Erdoğan ist nicht nachvollziehbar.

Gestern erst bei einer Fernsehdebatte mit dem HDP—Abgeordneten sagte der HDP—Abgeordnete zu mir, er sei besorgt über die Erklärungen der EU. Ja, nicht über die Türkei, sondern darüber, was in der EU gerade passiert! Denn während das Erdoğan—Regime gegenüber Andersdenkenden seine Haltung und Repressionen verschärft, zeigt sich die EU zuversichtlich, rückt ab von geplanten Sanktionen, verhandelt über Visaerleichterungen und intensiviert die wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit.

Sanktionen für China und Samthandschuhe für Erdoğan – das ist die Devise der Staatschefs. Und so verspielen sie nicht nur die eigene Glaubwürdigkeit. Sie ermutigen den Autokraten aus Ankara, noch martialischer gegen die Opposition vorzugehen. Es wundert also nicht, dass das „Wir sind zuversichtlich!“ zeitgleich erfolgt mit dem HDP—Verbot oder weiteren Maßnahmen. Ich sage es deutlich: Viele Kolleginnen und Kollegen in diesem Hause sind nicht einverstanden damit, dass Geopolitik über Menschenrechte und Demokratie gestellt wird.

  Tiziana Beghin (NI). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, tutti noi condividiamo gli sforzi della Commissione ma dobbiamo essere sinceri con i cittadini: per tornare alla normalità, servono vaccini e cure, non certificati!

Meno del 14 % della popolazione europea ha ricevuto un vaccino finora e parliamo solo della prima dose; a questi ritmi pochissimi cittadini saranno vaccinati prima dell'estate e i certificati, così come sono, rischiano di diventare un boomerang per chi non sarà riuscito a ottenere il vaccino.

Noi lavoreremo in Parlamento per migliorare questa proposta, garantire i diritti dei cittadini e impedire ogni discriminazione. Le sfide sono molte: il certificato, se implementato correttamente, potrebbe essere un primo segnale ma la soluzione vera è e rimane aumentare la disponibilità di vaccini.

Per questo bisogna sospendere i brevetti e avviare la produzione su larga scala in Europa, come abbiamo già chiesto con un'interrogazione peraltro sostenuta da molti colleghi. Solo così usciremo da questa crisi.

  Siegfried Mureşan (PPE). – Madam President, tackling the upcoming wave of the coronavirus crisis is without any doubt the most urgent task we have ahead of us. For this, we have to make sure that we accelerate the pace of vaccinations. We have to use all tools at our disposal to make sure that producers deliver vaccines to the citizens of the European Union.

But as important as this is the post-corona world that we are building. This shall be a world in which people have access to good public services, a world in which our economy is clean, green, digital and modern, and all of this is based on European values.

This is why I say it is very good that tonight in the European Council, the President of the United States will address the 27 heads of state and government. The big topics of our time require cooperation between the European Union and the United States. More than anything else, the European Union and the United States need to stay united in defending human rights, in defending the rule of law and the values of the free world.

We saw Turkey withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention on violence against women. We need to say very clearly, this is wrong. Turkey has to return to the Istanbul Convention.

In Russia, we see arrested citizens and journalists with no reason. We see restricted freedom of speech, no right of democratic opposition, and politicisation of the judiciary. This is why I believe we need to adopt as soon as possible further restrictive measures against this country. We cannot say that the behaviour of authoritarian regimes is unacceptable and then just accept it and go on with business as usual.

  Carlos Zorrinho (S&D). – Senhora Presidente, a interdependência, a cooperação e a solidariedade têm sido, desde a assinatura do Tratado de Roma, os instrumentos que nos permitiram viver mais de 60 anos de paz, desenvolvimento e prosperidade.

Foram também esses princípios que informaram as respostas sanitárias, económicas e sociais da União Europeia à crise pandémica. Sublinho, em relação à estratégia europeia de vacinação, a sua elaboração conjunta e solidária, a robustez técnica e da certificação, as garantias de segurança e a proteção dos vacinados. Saliento ainda a cooperação internacional promovida pela União através do TIN Europa e da COVAX.

Mas os factos demonstram que os contratos de produção e distribuição, assinados em contexto de grande incerteza, revelaram fragilidades, expuseram carências que têm que ser ultrapassadas.

Nenhuma resposta fragmentada, exacerbando nacionalismos ou egoísmos, poderá ter sucesso. A Comissão Europeia tem que ser apoiada para retomar a rota certa.

A Presidência Portuguesa do Conselho não se tem coibido nesse esforço. O Conselho desta semana vai ser claro na sua posição. A confiança dos europeus no processo de vacinação só poderá ser defendida se os Estados-Membros permanecerem unidos e solidários e formularem respostas conjuntas.

A implementação de um Certificado Verde Digital é uma oportunidade para restabelecer a confiança. Sabemos que não é um processo fácil, mas por alguma razão a União Europeia é líder na digitalização com privacidade e proteção de dados. A recuperação económica e social será beneficiada pelo certificado de segurança sanitária e a mobilidade também.

É preciso avançar depressa e de forma sólida neste caminho.

Termino, Sra. Presidente, saudando a presença no Conselho Europeu do Presidente dos Estados Unidos da América, Joe Biden. É um sinal de aprofundamento das relações transatlânticas e multilaterais, um sinal positivo para o mundo em geral e para as relações da União Europeia e dos Estados Unidos, em particular.

  Luis Garicano (Renew). – Señora presidenta, tres meses después del inicio de la campaña de vacunación, el ritmo al que vacuna la Unión Europea sigue siendo muy lento. Esta situación es insostenible e inaceptable. Lo fácil es buscar culpables fuera. Muchos apuntan al Reino Unido como culpable.

Sí es cierto que hubiéramos debido exigir a las compañías farmacéuticas que no exportaran a otros países terceros hasta que hubieran cumplido sus compromisos con los países europeos. Así lo hicieron el Reino Unido y los Estados Unidos. Pero no lo hicimos, y ahora, a estas alturas, impedir las exportaciones al Reino Unido tiene muchos costes y pocos beneficios. La realidad es que entre estos meses hemos exportado algo más de 10 millones de vacunas al Reino Unido, que para 450 millones de europeos no hubieran hecho una diferencia muy significativa. El coste, por otro lado, puede ser una guerra comercial que ponga en peligro la propia estrategia de vacunación, porque muchas de las materias primas vienen del Reino Unido y de otros países similares.

Aquí, realmente, a lo que nos enfrentamos es al comportamiento pirata de una compañía farmacéutica, que es AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca se comprometió a entregar 100 millones de dosis en el primer trimestre y nos dijo que solo podría entregar 30 ―de los que ha entregado 17― porque no tenía capacidad de producción. Hoy hemos descubierto que tiene guardados otros 30 millones de dosis. Esto no es cumplir con los «mejores esfuerzos» a los que se había comprometido en el contrato. Evidentemente no está cumpliendo su contrato.

Y, por tanto, si bien es cierto que no debemos cerrar las fronteras de la Unión Europea de forma significativa a ningún otro país, sí es cierto que debemos usar toda la fuerza legal de la Unión Europea para exigir a AstraZeneca que cumpla con sus obligaciones. Solo de esa manera podremos hacer que el proceso de vacunación siga su curso.

  Gunnar Beck (ID). – Frau Präsidentin! COVID—19 ist eine mittelschwere Viruswelle. Doch die EU hat dabei versagt. Ostasien, Herd des Virus, hat zwanzig— bis fünftausendmal weniger Tote als wir. Unsere Wirtschaft hier in der EU kollabiert. China indes schreibt Rekordexporte, und Indien dämmt das Virus mit Prophylaktika und ohne Lockdown ein.

Die EU—Impfstoffbeschaffung ist stümperhaft. Israel hat sechs-, England hat fünf- und die USA und viele haben dreimal so viele Menschen geimpft wie die EU. Reisen und normal leben sollen fortan kraft EU—Impfpass nur noch Geimpfte. Siebzig Prozent Geimpfte und immunisierte Erkrankte reichen für Herdenimmunität. Doch der EU fehlt weiterhin der Impfstoff.

Beenden Sie endlich diese ruinösen Lockdowns, und achten Sie unsere Grundrechte!

There’s more to life than avoiding death. Europe may well need a great reset, not for the citizens, but for a failing EU.

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE). – Frau Präsidentin! Es war eine gute Idee, dass Präsident Michel Präsident Biden zum Europäischen Gipfel eingeladen hat. Die wachsende Aggressivität verschiedener autoritärer Regimes weltweit macht es dringend erforderlich, dass die transatlantischen Partner ihre Zusammenarbeit neu begründen und verstärken. Das gilt insbesondere gegenüber China.

Europa ist niemandes Vasall. Aber es ist falsch, wenn einige europäische Politiker sagen, die EU solle sich weigern, sich einem internationalen politischen Lager anzuschließen. Die EU gehört selbstverständlich in ein Lager, in das Lager der Demokratie. Dazu suchen wir die Zusammenarbeit mit den Vereinigten Staaten und mit vielen anderen Partnern weltweit.

Es ist, wie die neue Handelsbeauftragte der USA, Katherine Tai, gesagt hat: Wir brauchen eine Einheitsfront von Alliierten. Es wäre richtig, dass die Vereinigten Staaten verstehen, dass diese Einheitsfront von Alliierten mit den Demokratien im Kern eine Partnership in Leadership braucht, um zu funktionieren.

Im Übrigen, meine lieben Kolleginnen und Kollegen, bin ich der Meinung, dass Nord Stream 2 gestoppt werden muss.

  Peter Lundgren (ECR). – Fru talman! Coronapass kommer ju att införas i alla medlemsstater i EU genom lagstiftning. Vaccinering är ju en lösning, men det bör inte vara tvingande. Vad kommer detta då att innebära? Kan någon hindras från att gå på bio eller teater om man inte har vaccinerat sig? Vaccinering borde alltid vara frivillig, även när det gäller corona, särskilt nu när det finns en osäkerhet kring bieffekter. Ett vaccinationsintyg ska därmed aldrig någonsin vara ett privilegium för att få leva som vanligt.

Före sommaren ska det här passet finnas redo. Det kommer att innehålla tre dokument: vaccinationsbevis, nytaget negativt test eller bevis för att du har antikroppar och nyligen har tillfrisknat från covid-19. Det kommer att krävas att du uppfyller någon av dessa tre saker för att kunna resa fritt till samtliga EU-länder. Det kommer att innebära att de som har vaccinerat sig kommer att få en större frihet än de som ännu inte har kunnat vaccinera sig eller fått chansen att vaccinera sig, och de måste då i stället visa upp ett negativt testresultat eller att de har tillfrisknat från covid-19.

Jag och mitt parti är emot både direkt och indirekt tvång. Ett vaccinationsintyg ska aldrig vara ett privilegium för att få leva som vanligt. Vi vill att man garanterar människor ute i Europa att vi aldrig kommer att tvinga någon att vaccinera sig.

  Isabella Adinolfi (NI). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, i vaccini sono un bene comune e non un affare per pochi. Per tornare alla vita normale, per far ripartire la nostra economia, abbiamo bisogno di vaccini.

Le case farmaceutiche hanno degli obblighi verso la collettività prima ancora che verso i loro azionisti. Stiamo aspettando da mesi per ricevere la nostra dose che ci permetta di tornare alla vita normale: eppure, ancora oggi, scopriamo che AstraZeneca nasconderebbe ben 29 milioni di dosi pronte per essere vendute al miglior offerente.

I leader europei dimostrino con i fatti che da questa pandemia sta nascendo un'Europa più forte, equa e solidale, visto che mentre stiamo parlando in quest'Aula milioni di cittadini hanno perso il lavoro e i propri cari.

Mi chiedo, cosa aspettiamo a sospendere le licenze e avviare una produzione europea autonoma e puntuale, in modo da poter garantire a tutti i vaccini?

Non possiamo piegarci davanti alle case farmaceutiche: la salute di milioni di cittadini, che qui rappresentiamo, deve essere la nostra unica preoccupazione.

  Dolors Montserrat (PPE). – Señora presidenta, la COVID-19 por desgracia ha llegado para quedarse mucho tiempo: probablemente no solo nos vacunaremos este año, sino los próximos. ¿Estamos preparados para los próximos años? Se trata de prepararnos o fracasar. Si Europa y los Estados miembros no se preparan hoy, fracasaremos mañana en la lucha contra el virus.

Tenemos que acelerar la producción y la vacunación masiva y hacer frente a las futuras variantes; tenemos que investigar y desarrollar nuevos tratamientos contra la COVID-19 para bajar el número de hospitalizados y salvar más vidas. Debemos poner en marcha ya el certificado digital de vacunación para permitir a los europeos la libertad de movimiento sin discriminación.

Tenemos que facilitar el acceso periódico de test para todos, para reactivar la economía y el empleo. El mecanismo de restricción de exportaciones, debe garantizarnos que las vacunas producidas en Europa sirvan para asegurar que las farmacéuticas cumplan sus contratos. Y exportar, sí, pero siempre debemos asegurar el principio de reciprocidad. Es inadmisible que AstraZeneca juegue con la reputación y la credibilidad de Europa escondiendo 29 millones de dosis, incumpliendo su contrato. La Comisión y el Consejo no pueden quedarse de brazos cruzados ante este grave incumplimiento. Debemos exigir a los Estados miembros que pongan en marcha planes nacionales de vacunación. Solo así lograremos el objetivo de vacunar al 70 %.

Europa debe prepararse para las pandemias que nacen de esta: la soledad, la salud mental, la atención a pacientes crónicos. Europa necesita ya un plan europeo de apoyo a la salud mental y la soledad. No fallemos ahora, es mucho lo que está en juego.

  Javier Moreno Sánchez (S&D). – Señora presidenta, con la campaña europea de vacunación progresando en nuestros países, podemos comenzar a retomar la movilidad y, por tanto, uno de los pilares fundamentales de la Unión: la libre circulación de personas.

Por eso celebramos la propuesta de un instrumento europeo único que facilite los desplazamientos entre Estados miembros. No solo para que los ciudadanos y las ciudadanas puedan volver a ver a sus seres queridos, sino también para que puedan disfrutar de unos días de descanso o de ocio con toda seguridad. Porque no olvidemos: el turismo es tan importante para las economías como para los turistas.

Mañana debemos aprobar el procedimiento de urgencia propuesto por la Comisión, sí o sí. Señorías, la ciudadanía no entenderá que este Parlamento retrase el proceso y que acabemos finalmente con veintisiete documentos nacionales en una confusión total.

Por ello, la delegación socialista española apoyará mañana el procedimiento de urgencia propuesto por la Comisión. Obviamente, defendemos que el certificado verde, en su versión digital o en papel, sea válido en toda la Unión. Y que, además, debe ser gratuito, accesible, seguro y fiable y, sobre todo, no discriminatorio. Por ello, el certificado solo puede recoger los datos necesarios relativos a las tres opciones posibles: vacunación, PCR negativo o prueba de inmunidad por haber pasado la COVID, y garantizar que no pueda ser utilizado con otros fines.

Señorías, mañana votemos sí y demos un poco de esperanza, un poco de esperanza europea a nuestros ciudadanos y ciudadanas.

  Sophia in ‘t Veld (Renew). – Madam President, people are desperate to regain their freedom. Today we see decisions for more lockdowns. So we do need to adopt these certificates quickly before the summer break and this Parliament will work fast and deliver. But the certificates are not enough. We need three more things and that’s vaccination, vaccination, vaccination!

Ms von der Leyen’s V-Day is now three months ago and where do we stand? It’s simply not possible to explain to people why we have still not advanced with vaccination. And if we ask people to make an almost inhuman sacrifice in their freedom, the national governments have to make a superhuman effort to make sure that vaccines are available.

Now on the certificate, it must be temporary, absolutely non-discriminatory and there must be a guarantee that no data will be stored. In this respect, I have a question to the Commission because the Americans do collect the data of EU citizens and they store them for two years. I know the Commission is in talks with the US. I would like to get a bit more transparency on that.

  Jaak Madison (ID). – Madam President, first of all I would like to focus on this green passport for the China virus vaccine. I would like to just ask, have you ever wondered in the Commission the fact that we already have a passport for vaccines, the yellow one? Most of us should really well know it and even I have it, like I think it’s here and I got my vaccine against the China virus about three weeks ago. It’s already written there that I got my vaccine, but it doesn’t really give any good habit for me because I still have to walk with a mask outside, alone in the park. I have to wear a mask here also, it doesn’t really give a benefit.

So the question is, do you have any plan about what it really gives you when you are vaccinated? Which kind of freedoms will you get? And what’s the problem with the yellow passports that we already have internationally? All the countries are recognising that and we don’t have to build a bicycle from zero.

The second topic I would really like to mention is how are you going to protect against discrimination? Because already this morning I read the news that even in Estonia, in my own country, one of the biggest private companies will fire people if they will not accept the vaccination. It’s a really serious question because it has to be on free will. I’m very supportive of technology, the vaccines, I really believe that they will help, but at same time I’m just protecting very strongly the freedom of the vaccinations. You have to have a freedom to choose, do we want it or not, and we know very well that most of the people they still want it, but we can’t make it mandatory that you have to get vaccination and it’s a really important topic.

  Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE). – Madam President, vaccinations first, of course. Our societies are tired of the lockdowns. Companies need to restart their businesses. People long for more freedoms. But if we do not restore our free movement in a harmonised, gradual and also responsible way, we will face health risks, chaos, insecurity and discrimination.

We therefore welcome the Commission proposal for a Digital Green Certificate if it guarantees non-discrimination, the highest standards of data protection and if it only applies when strictly necessary.

As a parliament, we should be able to improve these safeguards, in line with the prerogatives of the different committees. We must be ready for the summer holidays and adopt the regulation in the June session, but we can do that in a normal but accelerated procedure, and this is why the urgent procedure, stripping us of our parliamentary scrutiny, is not necessary. On the contrary, the far-reaching decision we are about to take needs democratic control and legitimacy.

  Anna Fotyga (ECR). – Madam President, I welcome the transatlantic dialogue aimed at enhancing cooperation. I deeply regret the Council failing to provide safe conditions to discuss Russia. That is extremely timely.

On the euro, EU leaders should prevent Russia and China misusing the common European currency, weaponising it against the US by undermining the role of the dollar as a trade-clearing currency or even as the world’s reserve currency.

  Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó (NI). – Madam President, at the beginning of the pandemic, some governments fell into the war narrative as if the virus had to retreat, impressed by the force of war-like language, military uniforms at press conferences and the control of society at levels never seen in peacetime.

That has failed. Two countries leading the full vaccination, Israel and Chile, generally have a population of about 29 million – less than five EU countries: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland.

The EU is too far behind them. I know that some of the strategies these countries apply are not applicable here, but there is a widespread perception that the EU delays are a failure and are probably costing lives. Europe’s vaccination strategy has been deficient and weakens the internal credibility of a project that already has external credibility issues.

  Bernd Lange (S&D). – Frau Präsidentin, Herr Kommissar, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Der Weg des Exportverbots – finde ich – ist ein gefährlicher Weg, weil wir damit Unternehmen in die Haftung nehmen, die sich uns gegenüber vertragstreu zeigen.

Pfizer-BioNTech liefert zu uns in die Europäische Union das, was vertraglich verabredet ist. Und wenn wir die jetzt unter ein Exportverbot stellen – und in der Tat, es war Pfizer-BioNTech, die nach Großbritannien geliefert hat –, heißt das: Wir fordern von Pfizer-BioNTech, vertragsbrüchig zu werden. Was für eine Gegenreaktion könnte dadurch ausgelöst werden? Pfizer bekommt aus Großbritannien Inhaltsstoffe. Heißt das, wir müssen damit rechnen, dass Großbritannien als Gegenreaktion die Lieferung von Inhaltsstoffen verbietet? Dann sind wir innerhalb von wenigen Tagen auch unseren zuverlässigen Impfstoff los.

Wir müssen AstraZeneca in die Pflicht nehmen. Warum machen wir nicht eine Gesetzgebung, die AstraZeneca in den Fokus nimmt und zwingt, zu liefern und nicht die Impfdosen zu verstecken?

  Ana Paula Zacarias, Presidente em exercício do Conselho. – Senhora Presidente, Senhores Deputados, Senhor Comissário, gostaria de agradecer as vossas observações e comentários e pedir desculpa por ter que retirar-me mais cedo, porque vamos começar a reunião, em breve, do Comité Executivo da Conferência para o Futuro da Europa, uma reunião que todos, estou segura de que todos, creem ser importante. Peço, por isso, desculpa e faço assim as minhas observações, mesmo antes de terminar esta sessão, e volto a dizer que fico grata pelas vossas observações e comentários que tratarei de transmitir ao Presidente do Conselho e ao Presidente do Conselho Europeu.

Estou de acordo que vivemos, sem dúvida, um momento crucial na União Europeia em que precisamos de recuperar a confiança dos cidadãos europeus, em que precisamos de nos manter unidos para podermos ultrapassar esta crise sem precedentes que estamos, neste momento, a viver e isso exige unidade, unidade entre os Estados-Membros e capacidade de trabalhar em conjunto entre a Comissão Europeia, o Conselho e este Parlamento.

Por isso, é muito importante que, nesta videoconferência, que os nossos líderes vão ter, eles possam olhar de frente os grandes desafios que temos pela frente.

É preciso fazer face ao impacto sanitário da COVID-19, é necessário fazer face ao impacto económico da COVID-19 para podermos regressar, pelo menos, ao que seja uma nova normalidade e, para isso, precisamos de usar todos os instrumentos disponíveis.

Precisamos do trabalho feito pelo Comissário Thierry Breton na busca de melhores formas de cooperação entre os Estados-Membros, as regiões, as empresas, para melhorar a nossa capacidade de produção, a nossa capacidade logística, as capacidades de as cadeias de produção estarem mais articuladas, assegurar a autonomia da União.

Precisamos de um mecanismo de autorização de exportação equilibrado, efetivo, que respeite a reciprocidade, que respeite a proporcionalidade e também a complexidade, como aqui foi dito, das cadeias de produção das vacinas e dos seus raw materials. Precisamos também de assegurar, claramente, o cumprimento dos Tratados e os acordos celebrados com as empresas farmacêuticas. Precisamos também de melhorar o sistema de partilha das vacinas com os nossos vizinhos, com os países mais necessitados através do mecanismo COVAX, através dos mecanismos bilaterais complementares e, certamente, precisamos de fazer avançar o Certificado Verde Digital e não é só pelo turismo, embora o turismo seja muito importante, como aqui foi dito, é importante para que possamos assegurar também o regresso da mobilidade dos nossos cidadãos no seu conjunto: as viagens de trabalho, as viagens de negócios, os encontros das famílias. É fundamental para alcançarmos a recuperação económica da União Europeia.

Quero, por isso, agradecer aos Senhores Deputados que aqui manifestaram o seu apoio a esta proposta dos certificados verdes digitais e agradecer também àqueles que aqui manifestaram a disponibilidade para trabalharem na sua concretização com a maior urgência.

Enquanto Presidência, não pouparemos esforços para chegar a uma posição no Conselho, o mais rapidamente possível, e esperamos cooperar com o Parlamento para que ambos os colegisladores avaliem todos os aspetos técnicos, que são muitos e difíceis, e avaliem também as implicações políticas desta proposta, como aqui foi pedido, mas que sejamos capazes de chegar a um acordo em maio próximo.

Finalmente, em relação aos aspetos de política externa que aqui foram abordados, creio que este momento é extremamente importante para esta conversa entre os 27 líderes da União Europeia com o Presidente do Conselho Europeu e o Presidente Biden. Será importante para sublinhar a relevância das nossas relações transatlânticas e para construir as necessárias sinergias nestes difíceis momentos que atravessamos.

Agradeço também ao Parlamento a oportunidade de amanhã estar aqui nesta sala a debater convosco a questão da Turquia, nomeadamente a saída daquele país da Convenção de Istambul. O Conselho tem manifestado, repetidamente, a sua preocupação sobre o contínuo retrocesso do Estado de Direito e pelas deficiências no respeito pelos direitos fundamentais na Turquia e estou certa de que os líderes não deixarão de abordar esta situação, sublinhando esta importância da Turquia respeitar as suas obrigações democráticas fundamentais.

Agradeço, mais uma vez, esta possibilidade de debater convosco a preparação da reunião informal de líderes que terá lugar amanhã e depois e ficarei, seguramente, depois também à vossa disposição para futuras trocas de opinião sobre o que dela resultar.

  José Ramón Bauzá Díaz (Renew). – Señora presidenta, este año ha sido una auténtica pesadilla para todos; lo ha sido para todos aquellos que han sufrido en sus carnes la enfermedad del coronavirus; para las personas que se han visto afectadas porque han perdido familiares, amigos o bien compatriotas; para los millones de sanitarios que han estado y siguen estando en primera línea de batalla frente a la pandemia; en definitiva, para todos nosotros. Y ha sido y es una situación absolutamente terrible, no solo porque en determinadas ocasiones no se ve la luz al final del túnel, sino porque seguimos con una ola detrás de otra en algunos países, como es el caso del mío, de España.

Pero, precisamente por eso, también tenemos y contamos con una herramienta que no teníamos hasta ahora para recobrar esa eficacia y, sobre todo, la confianza, que es el certificado de vacunación. Que no solamente nos permite la movilidad —importantísima entre todos nosotros—, sino que, además, lo más importante es que permite que nuestras empresas, que nuestros autónomos, que nuestros trabajadores vinculados con el ámbito del transporte y del turismo vean cómo se abren esas perspectivas para una recuperación económica.

En definitiva, señorías, tenemos en esta Cámara la obligación moral de sacar ese certificado de vacunación adelante de la forma más rápida, pero también con las máximas garantías.

  Annalisa Tardino (ID). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, questa Commissione, che oggi ci chiede di votare la procedura d'urgenza per l'eventuale adozione del certificato verde digitale, si è contraddistinta per la fallimentare strategia vaccinale. Un errore dopo l'altro, sorda alle nostre richieste di cambio di passo. Oggi ci dite che c'è fretta e noi lo sappiamo.

Abbiamo ricordato con commozione, giusto qualche giorno fa, le vittime della COVID, evocando, tra le tante, l'immagine delle salme di Bergamo sui mezzi militari. A un anno di distanza, e nonostante tutto, riteniamo che sia nostro dovere guardare con speranza al futuro.

È nostro dovere programmare le riaperture graduali nei vari paesi, nonché individuare strumenti per assicurare la libera circolazione dei cittadini dell'Unione europea senza discriminazioni tra paesi di provenienza.

Garantire la ripresa economica dei nostri Stati, anche attraverso il turismo, è l'unica cosa che renderà veramente liberi i cittadini europei. Fiducia, speranza, sicurezza e felicità sono elementi imprescindibili per tornare a vivere e su cui dobbiamo insistere.

Non entreremo nel merito del provvedimento oggi, ma annuncio già che la direzione che potrà convincerci sarà quella della provvisorietà delle misure e della tutela dei diritti umani, evitando discriminazioni o imposizioni.

E speriamo che abbiate veramente capito voi che c'è fretta, soprattutto di ripartire!

  Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE). – Madame la Présidente, j’aurai trois questions.

La première concerne les implications sanitaires. Même si je soutiens l’idée d’une coordination au niveau européen pour garantir la libre circulation, je pense que ce certificat donne une fausse impression que tout est réglé. En effet, nous ne savons toujours pas si les vaccins autorisés permettent aux personnes vaccinées de ne plus transmettre le virus, ni la durée de protection de ces vaccins. L’OMS a notamment soulevé ces inquiétudes. Pourquoi alors ne pas tenir compte de ces considérations médicales importantes ?

Deuxièmement, vous mentionnez la possibilité pour les États membres de ne pas reconnaître de la même façon le certificat. Ne pensez-vous pas que plus de coordination serait nécessaire avant de mettre en place un système qui risque de mener à la discrimination ?

Troisièmement, en ce qui concerne les données personnelles, considérant la teneur médicale des informations, pourquoi ne pas avoir opté pour un système mentionnant simplement si un test, un vaccin ou une guérison ont bien eu lieu afin d’éviter le tracking éventuel des données de santé des citoyens ?

  Nicola Procaccini (ECR). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, ci troviamo di fronte a un'emergenza sanitaria ma anche a un'emergenza economica.

Potersi spostare da uno Stato all'altro non è solo un piacere personale: è anche la condizione necessaria per la ripresa del turismo in tutta Europa. Imprenditori e lavoratori, insieme con le loro famiglie, hanno bisogno di riprendere la propria attività in sicurezza e velocità.

Per milioni di uomini e di donne il certificato verde digitale non sarà la panacea di tutti i mali, ma è certamente un punto di partenza fondamentale per mettere in sicurezza l'estate, rendendo omogenee le procedure di ingresso nei Paesi dell'Unione europea ed evitando un passaporto vaccinale obbligatorio, che sarebbe davvero discriminante per molti motivi.

L'estate è già alle porte. Mi auguro che la solita burocrazia europea o le solite paranoie ideologiche delle sinistre non ostacolino il cammino più veloce possibile del certificato in questo Parlamento: sarebbe un ulteriore, ingiusta violenza nei confronti dei cittadini italiani ed europei.

  François-Xavier Bellamy (PPE). – Madame la Présidente, ce Conseil, nous le savons, commence dans un contexte géopolitique extrêmement particulier. Depuis un an, la Chine tire parti de notre faiblesse face à une épidémie que ses mensonges et ses dissimulations, jusqu’à maintenant, auront largement contribué à rendre dévastatrice et mortelle. Maintenant, elle a décidé de répondre par la violence et par l’intimidation aux questions pourtant légitimes qui lui sont posées.

Il y a quelques jours, un chercheur français reconnu a été traité par l’ambassade de Chine à Paris de hyène folle et de petite frappe. Tout récemment, il y a deux jours, ce sont plusieurs de nos collègues qui ont été ciblés nommément par des sanctions de la Chine. Nous devons leur redire notre total et absolu soutien.

Si la diplomatie chinoise nous regarde, nous lui disons ceci : si vraiment vous considérez nos préoccupations comme de la désinformation, alors répondez. Chercher à nous faire taire ne fera rien pour résoudre les problèmes qui vous sont posés car nous ne nous tairons pas.

Nous ne nous tairons pas sur ce qui se passe actuellement à Hong Kong, où l’accord sino-britannique qui garantit les libertés est aujourd’hui foulé aux pieds par Pékin. Ce n’est pas de l’ingérence que de dire cela, c’est appeler au respect du droit international. Quand les résultats démocratiques sont écrasés au nom d’une loi qui appelle au patriotisme, l’Europe doit rappeler que le patriotisme c’est d’aimer sa patrie, pas d’obéir à son parti.

Nous devons renforcer les liens avec les pays de la région qui résistent à la pression de la Chine, au premier rang desquels Taïwan. Cette alliance sera le signe que l’Europe sera toujours du côté de la liberté.

Enfin, notre Parlement n’aura pas le droit de se taire lorsque nous allons débattre de l’accord récemment validé entre l’Union européenne et la Chine. Nous ne pouvons pas le ratifier tant que la Chine n’aura pas effectivement signé les conventions de l’OIT et ne se sera pas soumise au contrôle qui s’y rapporte.

  Birgit Sippel (S&D). – Frau Präsidentin! Letzte Woche hat uns Kommissar Reynders die grünen Zertifikate zur Vereinfachung von COVID-Grenzkontrollen vorgestellt und betont, das konkrete Verfahren sei ihm egal, solange denn der endgültige Text bis Juni fertig sei, und das können wir natürlich.

Doch nun die Kehrtwende: ein Antrag von Kommissionspräsidentin von der Leyen für ein Dringlichkeitsverfahren. Ist das jetzt Ablenkung vom Impfdesaster? Denn das Parlament kann unverzüglich Artikel 49 der Geschäftsordnung einleiten, damit werden wir pünktlich fertig, und die Rolle der Ausschüsse würde respektiert. Aus meiner Sicht wäre das die bessere Lösung.

Doch jenseits des konkreten Verfahrens gibt es offene Fragen – auch im Rat: Werden etwa Bedingungen für freies Reisen im Schengen-Raum eingeführt? Wie steht es um Datenschutz und Nichtdiskriminierung? Wer zahlt denn die Tests etwa für den täglichen Grenzübertritt von Arbeitnehmern? Oder: Werden die Zertifikate zu einem Bonus für einige wenige? All das müssen und werden wir prüfen.

  María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos (Renew). – Señora presidenta, señor comisario, se ha dicho aquí que la Unión Europea ha fracasado. No es verdad, no hemos fracasado. Estamos luchando. Y, a la vista de comportamientos piratas de farmacéuticas como AstraZeneca, o del verdadero problema al que tenemos que hacer frente, que es la producción en Europa de vacunas con todas las garantías —agradezco a Thierry Breton todos sus esfuerzos—, lo estamos haciendo de la mejor forma posible. Juntos tenemos que dar una solución europea a la gestión de la pandemia.

Y, en este sentido, el certificado europeo es una solución europea. No queremos veintisiete certificados sanitarios. Queremos un certificado europeo. Un certificado que no es discriminatorio. No va a ser una condición para viajar, pero puede exonerar de otras condiciones para viajar como, por ejemplo, PCR, confinamientos. Va a dar los mismos derechos a todos los ciudadanos, independientemente de su nacionalidad. Y será, señorías, un instrumento sanitario, porque nos dará una información muy valiosa del estado de vacunación e inmunológico de los ciudadanos europeos.

  Ernest Urtasun (Verts/ALE). – Señora presidenta, hay que empezar a decir que la campaña de vacunación en Europa se acerca al desastre. Y no busquen chivos expiatorios. El problema es que no se atreven a meter mano a los intereses de las grandes industrias farmacéuticas: han externalizado toda la producción de vacunas a actores privados y, como resultado, de los 160 millones de dosis que tenían que llegar este trimestre apenas han llegado 70; ahora con este último episodio de los 30 millones de vacunas que se han encontrado por casualidad en Italia.

Esto no puede seguir así. Ustedes ahora quieren establecer controles en frontera. Me parece bien, pero el problema es que el nacionalismo de la vacuna tampoco nos va a sacar de esta situación. Lo que hay que hacer es producir más, mejorar nuestras capacidades de producción, y para ello hay que obligar a las empresas farmacéuticas a hacer transferencias tecnológicas porque muchas de esas vacunas se han logrado con dinero público. Y, en segundo lugar, apoyen, en la Organización Mundial del Comercio, que se levanten determinados derechos de propiedad intelectual, como está pidiendo la OMS, porque si no llega la vacuna a todo el mundo no resolveremos el problema de la pandemia. Por favor, actúen y de una vez dejen de esconderse detrás de los intereses de las farmacéuticas y oblíguenlas a hacer su trabajo y aumentemos la producción en Europa levantando estos derechos.

  Jorge Buxadé Villalba (ECR). – Señora presidenta, el paro en España ha superado los cuatro millones de personas. A esa cifra hay que sumar 900 000 trabajadores en expedientes de regulación de empleo. Miles de autónomos y de pequeñas y medianas empresas están a punto de cerrar. Hay que abrir todo ya. Hay que acabar con el chantaje de las farmacéuticas y tomar todas las medidas necesarias para reactivar la actividad económica.

En el caso de España, uno de los sectores más afectados, sin duda, ha sido el turismo. En un solo año ha pasado de ser el 12,5 % de la producción nacional al 4 %. Y hay casi tres millones de empleos que están en juego. El modelo de subvencionar el paro a costa de endeudar Europa y hacerse reo de los acreedores tiene que acabar ya. Tenemos que reactivar fundamentalmente el turismo.

Por ello, nosotros no nos vamos a oponer a ese certificado sanitario europeo, siempre que cumpla una serie de condiciones: que no suponga restricciones a la libertad de circulación de los nacionales, que no beneficie a los inmigrantes ilegales y, por supuesto, que garantice el derecho de todos a ser vacunados o no.

Por eso, hay que poner fin a las restricciones y poner fin a las restricciones, no cuando lo diga Pedro ni cuando lo diga la Organización Mundial de la Salud, porque eso es dejar el futuro de Europa en manos de la China comunista.

  Paulo Rangel (PPE). – O Certificado Verde Digital tem de andar rapidamente e tem de permitir remover os obstáculos à privacidade e à discriminação, mas é fundamental não apenas para o turismo, como aqui se diz, mas para repor o espaço Schengen que foi largamente afetado pela pandemia.

Já o disse aqui, a estratégia de vacinação da União Europeia é boa, mas a execução está a ser má. O problema não é apenas aqui ou ali uma falha da Comissão, que existe, o problema são também as divisões entre os países, cada um por si, a Hungria e a Eslováquia com a Sputnik, a Dinamarca e a Áustria que vão a Israel, o Ministro da Saúde alemão que diz que é capaz de encomendar vacinas Sputnik, a suspensão da AstraZeneca feita em dominó sem ouvir a Autoridade Europeia do Medicamento. Tudo isso cria cacofonia, cria divergência, dificulta imenso o trabalho da Comissão que está a fazer um esforço enorme para garantir que possamos chegar a julho com a imunidade de grupo.

E o que faz a Presidência do Conselho do Sr. Michel? O que faz a Presidência Portuguesa para garantir que os Governos dos Estados-Membros, em vez de estar cada um a tratar da sua própria opinião pública, se empenhem em ter uma ação concertada, uma ação conjugada, de forma a que a Comissão possa desenvolver o seu trabalho e o interesse dos europeus serem vacinados esteja em primeiro lugar.

  Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D). – Señora presidenta, 450 millones de europeas y de europeos exigen de este Parlamento que les representa que haga cuanto esté en su mano por acelerar el proceso de vacunación y por restablecer la libre circulación, que es de lejos el activo que más aprecian. Y la Comisión nos propone un certificado verde sanitario e inmunológico que dé homogeneidad y coordinación donde ahora hay fragmentación y, por tanto, también discriminación.

La base jurídica es la libre circulación y, por lo tanto, la comisión responsable será la Comisión de Libertades Civiles, Justicia y Asuntos de Interior, que da la bienvenida a este instrumento. Y una mayoría de coordinadores de la comisión plantea que habría una alternativa del procedimiento acelerado que asegurase la consecución del resultado en junio, pero la Comisión propone una votación sobre el procedimiento de urgencia.

Y si sale sí al procedimiento de urgencia, es importante asegurar que se abra también un plazo de enmiendas y un mandato de negociación para que el resultado de esa negociación sea votado en la Comisión de Libertades Civiles, Justicia y Asuntos de Interior y, posteriormente, en el Pleno en junio; pero, sobre todo, se aseguren los derechos fundamentales, la temporalidad del instrumento, la prohibición de discriminación y, por supuesto, la privacidad y la protección de datos de las europeas y de los europeos.

  Jeroen Lenaers (PPE). – Madam President, during the first wave of the pandemic, we saw barriers to free movement appearing all over the European Union. In my own village close to the Dutch-Belgian border we saw sea containers, fences and piles of sand blocking the way for those looking to cross the border as they have been crossing borders for many years already, for love, for work, for whatever reason. Now the fences have disappeared but restrictions remain in place and of course in a situation as grave as a pandemic it has to be the Member States that have the ultimate say as to who enters their country and under what conditions.

That is their responsibility and their duty, but it is our duty at European level to make sure that our citizens have a quick and easy way to show that they fulfil those conditions, that their national certificates for their vaccinations, for their negative tests or for their immunity are recognised and accepted in the whole European Union. We need to avoid having 27 separate national systems creating one big European chaos. And we need to do this fast. Our citizens expect the European Union to be part of the solution and not the problem. And I welcome the request by Commission President von der Leyen to use the urgent procedure that our Rules of Procedure in this House allow for in extraordinary circumstances, to do this fast.

We will show that this Parliament can work swiftly and efficiently without compromising on the quality of the work. We need to deliver to make sure that our citizens can exercise their rights to the fullest and without delay.

  István Ujhelyi (S&D). – Tisztelt Elnök Asszony, Kedves Kollégák! Oltáspárti magyar európai parlamenti képviselőként meggyőződésem, hogy egyszerre van szükség az oltás felgyorsítására, a vakcinák érkezésére, a nagyarányú tesztelésre és a vakcinaútlevélre. 25 millió munkavállaló az Európai Unióban a közlekedés és a turizmus szektorában arra vár, hogy valamifajta életben maradási esélyt kapjon az egzisztenciáját illetően. Ezen közben tanulók, sofőrök, ingázó munkavállalók is azt várják és kérdezik, hogy hogyan fognak tudni utazni. De magyar EP-képviselőként el kell mondjam Önöknek, hogy csak olyan döntést hozhatunk, amely nem hoz hátrányos helyzetbe sok százezer olyan magyar polgárt, akiket olyan vakcinával oltottak be, amely nincs az Európai Unióban egyelőre engedélyezve.

A megoldás egy lehet, hogy ha minden ilyen gyártó, legyen ő orosz vagy kínai vagy indiai, kéri az európai uniós engedélyt és elindítja ezt az eljárást. Ez lehet a megoldás a jövőre nézve.

  Στέλιος Κυμπουρόπουλος (PPE). – Κυρία Πρόεδρε, κύριε Επίτροπε, αγαπητοί συνάδελφοι, ήθελα να εκφράσω ιδιαίτερη ικανοποίηση που το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο θα συζητήσει την πρόταση για ψηφιακό πράσινο πιστοποιητικό, μια πρωτοβουλία που ξεκίνησε από τον πρωθυπουργό της χώρας μου, κύριο Μητσοτάκη.

Χρειαζόμαστε ένα λειτουργικό, προσβάσιμο και ασφαλές πιστοποιητικό για όλους τους Ευρωπαίους πολίτες, χωρίς διακρίσεις και με σεβασμό στα δικαιώματά τους, ώστε οι Ευρωπαίοι πολίτες να μπορούν να το χρησιμοποιήσουν όσο το δυνατόν πιο σύντομα· αλλά και να δοθεί μια σημαντική ανάσα στον τουρισμό και στον κλάδο της εστίασης, οι οποίοι έχουν πληγεί ανεπανόρθωτα, μέσω μιας συντονισμένης, κοινής προσέγγισης χωρίς εξαιρέσεις, με ξεκάθαρη ενημέρωση σε περίπτωση που ένα κράτος μέλος εξακολουθεί να απαιτεί από τους κατόχους ψηφιακού πράσινου πιστοποιητικού να υποβάλλονται σε καραντίνα ή σε εξέταση.

Ωστόσο, η χρονική συγκυρία είναι κρίσιμη και επιβάλλεται η τάχιστη υιοθέτηση της πρότασης αρκετά πριν από το καλοκαίρι, ώστε να δοθεί ο απαραίτητος χρόνος στις επιχειρήσεις να κάνουν τον προγραμματισμό τους και να προετοιμαστούν. Γιατί μόνο έτσι θα μπορέσουμε να δείξουμε έμπρακτα στους συμπολίτες μας ότι, μέσω μιας κοινής ευρωπαϊκής προσέγγισης, η Ένωση μας μπορεί να δρα γρήγορα και να δίνει λύσεις προς όφελος των πολιτών της.

  Paul Tang (S&D). – Madam President, the big tech companies see their profits skyrocket because of the pandemic, and then compare that to the small-business owner who is struggling to survive because of the pandemic. When he or she finds out that the big techs hardly pay any taxes, what do you think the reaction will be? So the Council doesn’t just need to discuss how to deal with a pandemic but also how to recover from it.

As Chair of the Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC), I am proud that yesterday the first own-initiative FISC report on digital taxation was adopted in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs with an overwhelming majority and with a very clear message to the Council. A European digital levy should contribute to the OECD solution, preferably fall on profits and raise substantial revenue – also to pay for the expenditure of the Recovery Fund.

It’s up to the Council to let digitalised multinationals pay their fair share and contribute to the recovery after the pandemic, so that not just small-business owners and the other taxpayers will pay the price of the pandemic.

  Μαρία Σπυράκη (PPE). – Κυρία Πρόεδρε, κύριε Επίτροπε Hahn, ενώ συμπολίτες μας χάνονται και άλλοι νοσηλεύονται στις μονάδες εντατικής θεραπείας, ενώ η οικονομία της Ευρώπης χειμάζεται, σήμερα, εδώ, στο Ευρωκοινοβούλιο, με τη διαδικασία του κατεπείγοντος, κάνουμε ένα πρώτο βήμα ώστε να έχουμε το πράσινο ψηφιακό πιστοποιητικό μέχρι το τέλος του Μαΐου.

Το πράσινο ψηφιακό πιστοποιητικό έχουμε την τιμή να έχει ελληνική σφραγίδα, την ελληνική υπογραφή από την πρόταση του πρωθυπουργού Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη, και έρχεται να δημιουργήσει μια γραμμή ταχείας κυκλοφορίας, όχι μόνο για όσους εμβολιάζονται ή θα εμβολιαστούν αλλά και για εκείνους που έχουν αρνητικό τεστ και για εκείνους που έχουν αντισώματα. Τα εμπόδια μειώνονται· ο χώρος Σένγκεν επιστρέφει· παίρνουμε πίσω την ελευθερία των μετακινήσεων των πολιτών μας.

Είναι τώρα ευθύνη μας, ως Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, να εξαντλήσουμε όλα τα μέσα, ώστε οι εταιρείες παρασκευής των εμβολίων να εκπληρώσουν τις δεσμεύσεις τους και να καταφέρουμε να χτίσουμε ανοσία του 70% των πολιτών ως το τέλος του καλοκαιριού. Με το Πάσχα, να αναστήσουμε και την ελπίδα. Με το Πάσχα, να ξαναφέρουμε πίσω τη ζωή μας, τον ευρωπαϊκό τρόπο ζωής, να αναστήσουμε την οικονομία μας.

  Νίκος Ανδρουλάκης (S&D). – Κυρία Πρόεδρε, η έκθεση Borrell για τις ευρωτουρκικές σχέσεις θυμίζει στρουθοκάμηλο. Ενώ ο Erdogan είχε ήδη ξεκινήσει τις διώξεις για τη διάλυση του HDP, εσείς προαναγγείλατε επίσημη επίσκεψη και λίγες ώρες μετά μαθαίνουμε για την αποχώρηση της Τουρκίας από τη Σύμβαση της Κωνσταντινούπολης για τα δικαιώματα των γυναικών. Ποια είναι η αξιοπιστία της Ένωσης, όταν οικονομικά συμφέροντα μπαίνουν πάνω από την προστασία των ευρωπαϊκών αξιών και του κράτους δικαίου;

Στα συμπεράσματα του Συμβουλίου πρέπει να υπάρχει ρητή αναφορά όχι μόνο των κινήτρων αλλά και των κυρώσεων, στην περίπτωση που η Τουρκία συνεχίσει τις παραβιάσεις των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων στο εσωτερικό της και τις προκλήσεις στην ευρύτερη περιοχή. Επίσης, το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο σας έχει ζητήσει να συμπεριλάβετε τις κυρώσεις στο εμπάργκο όπλων. Δεν είναι δυνατόν να σταματούν τις πωλήσεις όπλων οι Αμερικανοί στην Τουρκία, και εσείς να συνεχίζετε να εξοπλίζετε τον γεωπολιτικό ταραξία.

Τέλος, θέλω να ευχαριστήσω τον Πρόεδρο Sassoli για τα θερμά του λόγια για τη 200ή επέτειο της Ελληνικής Επανάστασης και να ευχηθώ στους Έλληνες και τους φιλέλληνες σε όλο τον κόσμο χρόνια πολλά.

  Johannes Hahn, Member of the Commission. – Madam President, the Commission tabled this legislative proposal as swiftly as possible after the meeting of the members of the European Council. Our ambition now is to have the regulation in place by no later than June this year, in order to ensure that the free movement of our citizens can take place under safe health conditions.

This is a very important element of a gradual return to normal, which is expected from citizens and businesses alike, with impatience all across the Union. It’s therefore important that interinstitutional negotiations can start as soon as possible. Work on the details of the technical solution will need to take place in parallel in order to ensure that it can be operational as swiftly as possible after the adoption of the legal framework.

We have heard some MEPs’ concerns on the possible lack of democratic oversight linked to using the urgent procedure. Strictly speaking, I understand with this procedure there will not be a formal vote on the committee report. However, the urgent procedure allows for Parliament as a whole to fully scrutinise the proposal and to adopt its position within a month of the adoption of the proposal by the Commission. Parliament, as the voice of European citizens, will therefore have a clear say in the setup of the Digital Green Certificate.

These are exceptional times and I hope you will agree with me on the importance of delivering for our citizens. How will we explain to our citizens that we cannot manage to move swiftly on important issues? What would be the message we send? Time is of the essence: every day counts.

Moving forward, the Commission stands ready to provide all the support you might need and we will act as honest brokers during interinstitutional negotiations, while continuing to support Member States in developing the necessary infrastructure.

But let me also answer your question about the doses found in Italy today. We have repeatedly stressed the importance of full transparency on the number of doses that are being produced at AstraZeneca’s European production sites. We trust that AstraZeneca will do its utmost to ensure that all available batches are dispatched as soon as the quality-control process is completed. We don’t want to speculate on whether or not these doses have been designed for the European Union. If the company wants to export these doses out of the Union, it will have to submit an export authorisation request to the Italian authorities.

We observe a lack of transparency by AstraZeneca on how many doses they have produced, where and for whom. Given that they are not meeting their commitments under the European advance-purchase agreements, we consider it of the utmost importance to ensure full transparency. The precise amount of doses needs to be confirmed by the Italian authorities.

  Il-President. – Id-dibattitu konġunt ingħalaq

Stqarrijiet bil-miktub (Artikolu 171)

  Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou (PPE), in writing. – The adoption by the Commission of the COVID-19 Digital Green Certificate is a ‘victory’ in the battle to deal with the serious consequences of the pandemic in our European family. I remind you that it was the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who first proposed the adoption of a common European certificate to be used by Member States. We are making the right move, at the right moment. As vaccinations continue at an increasing pace, the Green Digital Certificate will safeguard one of the basic rights of citizens of our Union, namely the right to travel freely and safely, while at the same time it will mitigate the consequences of restrictions imposed by individual Member States.

The Digital Green Certificate is a particularly important development for southern Member States, whose economies rely to a large extent on tourism. Our next goal is to complete the legislative process as soon as possible so that the Digital Green Certificate can be deployed before the summer. Our citizens are impatient and anxious to exit the vice of this pandemic and to finally return to normality. Let us not disappoint them.

  Carmen Avram (S&D), in writing. – I understand the concerns of several tourist-destination Member States that want to save the busy summer season which is so important for their economies that already have suffered so much in the last year, because of the unprecedented COVID crisis. This EC Digital Green Certificate proposal aims to facilitate free circulation among the EU single market in the months ahead, it will be available, free of charge, in digital or paper format, with a QR code to ensure security and authenticity of the certificate. Still, while supporting the intention of this proposal, I want to stress that the certificate must not become another source of discrimination between EU Member States and its European citizens. Every one of the European citizens should first receive the possibility to be vaccinated and that’s why the EU should increase the vaccination campaign and make sure that all the necessary doses of vaccines are delivered to all Member States. Reaching the 70% vaccination target by summer will be our ticket to travel back to normality.

  Milan Brglez (S&D), pisno. – Povsem jasno je, da brez koordinacije in odločanja na ravni Unije pri sprejemanju ukrepov za prilagajanje posledicam aktualne pandemije ni možno pričakovati, da bo EU zmožna delovati v okviru svojih temeljnih organizacijskih postulatov, še zlasti kar se tiče skupnega trga in uresničevanja zanj značilnih štirih svoboščin.

Zato sem med prvimi, ki bo taka prizadevanja in delovanje na ravni Unije tudi odločno zagovarjal. Prav tako pa bom med prvimi, ki bo zagovarjal preglednost, preudarnost in dolžno skrbnost v zakonodajnih postopkih sprejemanja tovrstnih zavezujočih odločitev, predvsem zato, da se s tem zagotovi najvišje možne standarde spoštovanja človekovih pravic, ki so še posebej na udaru v kriznih časih.

Zato odločitev EP o nujnem postopku za sprejemanje predloga uredb za izdajanje digitalnega zelenega potrdila ocenjujem kot napačno. Z nujnim postopkom se namreč ne pospešijo posamezne faze parlamentarnega odločevalskega postopka, temveč se slednje preprosto preskoči.

To konkretno pomeni, da dotični zakonodajni predlog ne bo podvržen temeljitemu nadzoru in pregledu na ravni pristojnih parlamentarnih odborov, kar odpira možnosti za zakonodajne anomalije in pomanjkljivosti. Poleg tega menim, da zaradi odločitve o nujnem postopku digitalno zeleno potrdilo ne bo nič prej zaživelo v praksi. Le Parlament se je odrekel temu, da v okviru svojih pristojnosti zagotovi najvišje standarde za zaščito državljank in državljanov EU ter njihove zasebnosti.

  Sara Cerdas (S&D), por escrito. – O Certificado Verde Digital é um instrumento importante para a retoma da economia e do turismo, com o objetivo de facilitar a livre circulação dos cidadãos, garantindo todas as condições de segurança. Não há dúvidas quanto à urgência em adotar abordagens comuns que permitam a tão aguardada retoma, mas alerto para o facto de a pressa ser inimiga da perfeição. Há premissas fundamentais que devem ser respeitadas com este instrumento. Em primeiro lugar, o instrumento deve facilitar a mobilidade. Em segundo lugar, este instrumento não pode substituir nenhuma das outras medidas em vigor de combate à pandemia, de prevenção e contenção, mas sim complementá-las. Em terceiro lugar, o instrumento não pode ser discriminatório e criar cidadãos de primeira e de segunda categoria, pois a vacina não é ainda opcional e não deve constituir uma condição prévia para o exercício da livre circulação. Por fim, não pode criar mais stress aos que estão a trabalhar na pandemia e que estão na linha da frente desde o início, nomeadamente os profissionais de saúde e os trabalhadores fronteiriços. Na próxima reunião do Conselho Europeu, apelo a uma abordagem comum e coordenada, pois as lições do passado dizem-nos que esse é o caminho.

  Josianne Cutajar (S&D), in writing. – Travel and tourism have long awaited a European solution to restart travel. The industry is in dramatic conditions, having lost USD 2 trillion of GDP worldwide. While the Digital Green Certificates are not the silver bullet to our problems, they surely will assist Member States to try and safely reopen for summer 2021. To be clear, the urgency we are facing must never come at the cost of citizens’ civil liberties. We must be vigilant, ensuring that the certificates are truly non-discriminatory and remain valid only until we exit the pandemic. I repeat, this is not the answer to all our problems, but we need to be pragmatic, re-launching a safe summer reopening. Today, we must vote in favour of the urgent procedure, the first step of a paramount process to save the summer season. We need, moreover, further coordination measures established unitedly by EU Member States to set the foundations of a successful recovery. We must act fast to save the summer season and re-launch travel and tourism.

  Λουκάς Φουρλάς (PPE), γραπτώς. – To πράσινο ψηφιακό πιστοποιητικό στοχεύει στην υιοθέτηση μιας κοινής γραμμής και στη διευκόλυνση της ελεύθερης και ασφαλούς διακίνησης των Ευρωπαίων πολιτών. Το πιστοποιητικό θα επιτρέψει στους ανθρώπους να ταξιδέψουν ξανά αποτελώντας από μόνο του ένα σημαντικό βήμα προόδου για να δοθεί ξανά προοπτική στον τομέα του τουρισμού αλλά και για τους πολίτες που εργάζονται σε διαφορετικές χώρες. Ο τουρισμός για την χώρα μου την Κύπρο είναι ο πνεύμονας της οικονομίας και όλη αυτή την περίοδο έχει πληγεί ανεπανόρθωτα. Αποτελεί επιτακτική ανάγκη λοιπόν, η επανεκκίνηση αυτού του τομέα χρησιμοποιώντας μια κοινή στρατηγική και λαμβάνοντας πρωτοβουλίες σαν και αυτές του ψηφιακού πιστοποιητικού, με σεβασμό πάντα στα προσωπικά δεδομένα των πολιτών.

  Vlad Gheorghe (Renew). – The Digital Green Certificate is an instrument to guarantee swift reopening of economies and ease European citizens’ movement. It is not in any way an instrument to condition or discriminate as it includes all possible alternatives available – vaccination, testing or proof of overcoming the infection with the new coronavirus. Moreover, let us once and for all make it clear that no personal data of European citizens are to be at risk while using the Digital Green Certificate, on the contrary – it is an instrument meant to protect Europeans from such breaches from public or private operators, while offering a quick & easy solution for safe travel. Transport and tourism are sectors with important losses due to COVID-19 restrictions in all Member States. We need this Digital Green Certificate to help us all overcome disastrous effects of over one-year partially or fully closed doors. The key to an efficient implementation is predictability and unity as to procedures and structures in order to offer European citizens the means to move freely while being 100% protected. I strongly support the Digital Green Certificate and the need for urgent implementation of this unitary instrument to help us all return to our lives before the pandemic.

  Robert Hajšel (S&D), písomne. – Zavedenie takzvaných zelených COVID pasov nesmie byť diskrimináciou tých, ktorí z rôznych príčin nemohli byť zaočkovaní, a musí ísť iba o dočasné opatrenie, ktoré sa zruší po ukončení pandémie. Samozrejme, v prípade ďalších prípadných celosvetových zdravotných kríz bude možné uvažovať o ich obnovení. Je to spôsob, ako už toto leto uľahčiť Európanom vrátane Slovákov cestovanie a zjednotiť nateraz rozdielne prístupy krajín pri zaobchádzaní s prichádzajúcimi turistami a ostatnými cestujúcimi. Samozrejme treba aj naďalej zabezpečiť, aby očkovanie nebolo povinné, a preto aj zavedenie COVID pasu musí umožniť ľuďom vybrať si aj možnosť preukázať sa alternatívnymi potvrdeniami k vakcinácii, a to negatívnym PCR testom alebo certifikátom o prekonaní ochorenia COVID-19. Rozhodnutie o tom, ktoré vakcíny mimo oficiálneho portfólia EMA budú jednotlivé krajiny uznávať, musí ostať plne v ich kompetencii. Oceňujem, že Európska komisia okrem vakcín registrovaných EMA umožňuje členským štátom zaradiť do zeleného pasu aj vakcíny mimo portfólia EMA. Verím, že mnohé štáty EÚ budú čoskoro akceptovať aj zaočkovanie ruskou vakcínou Sputnik V, ktorej posudzovanie pokračuje v rámci agentúry EMA a ktorej dodávky už nakúpili niektoré štáty EÚ. Aby naši občania mohli z týchto zelených COVID pasov naozaj profitovať, treba, aby za uvedených podmienok vstúpili do platnosti už pred letnými prázdninami.

  Beata Mazurek (ECR), na piśmie. – Certyfikaty szczepień dla osób, które zostały zaszczepione przeciwko koronawirusowi, to ważny krok w walce z obecnymi i potencjalnymi zagrożeniami zdrowotnymi, z którymi zmaga się cały świat. Propozycja Komisji Europejskiej w tym zakresie bez wątpienia ułatwi bezpieczne przemieszczanie się społeczeństwa wewnątrz Unii Europejskiej oraz poza jej granicami. Zielony certyfikat cyfrowy to też nadzieja na odmrożenie wielu branż gospodarki, które najbardziej ucierpiały na skutek lockdownu.

Nie możemy jednak zapominać, że warunkiem sprawnego wdrożenia tego rozwiązania musi być zapewnienie wysokiego poziomu ochrony danych osobowych, przejrzystości systemu i braku dyskryminacji obywateli tych państw, gdzie poziom realizacji programu szczepień jest na niższym poziomie niż w innych państwach członkowskich. Tzw. zielone certyfikaty powinny ułatwiać podróżowanie w warunkach utrzymujących się ograniczeń, a nie prowadzić do kolejnych restrykcji.

Z punktu widzenia społeczeństwa niezbędne będzie przeprowadzenie skutecznej kampanii informacyjnej dotyczącej działań Komisji na rzecz wdrożenia nowych rozwiązań, by uchronić obywateli przed dezinformacją i pojawiającymi się na ten temat nieprawdziwymi informacjami.

  Alin Mituța (Renew), în scris. – Adeverința electronică COVID este instrumentul care va permite cetățenilor europeni care pot dovedi că prezintă un risc epidemiologic redus să poată circula fără restricții începând cu această vară. Mai precis, adeverința va fi disponibilă gratuit pentru cei vaccinați, pentru cei care posedă un test COVID negativ, cât și pentru cei care pot dovedi că au anticorpi. Este fundamental să explicăm cât mai clar că această adeverință nu afectează nicidecum drepturile europenilor, inclusiv dreptul la libera circulație, ci este un act pur administrativ prin care se atestă un risc redus de contaminare, permițând statelor membre să nu mai impună măsuri de carantinare sau izolare dacă nu sunt necesare. Însă adeverința nu acordă un drept suplimentar celor care pot sau aleg să o dețină. De asemenea, această adeverință nu impune în niciun fel obligativitatea vaccinării, așa cum se spune în anumite știri false. Avem nevoie de această adeverință aprobată și pusă in aplicare cât mai repede posibil. Sper că odată ce vaccinarea va crește imunitatea generală a populației, acest lucru va permite statelor membre să elimine toate restricțiile la liberă circulație, moment în care adeverința va deveni superfluă și ne vom putea întoarce la normalitate.

  Victor Negrescu (S&D), în scris. – Adeverințele electronice verzi, propuse de Comisia Europeană, vor acționa ca o dovadă pentru vaccinare, un test negativ ori un test de anticorpi COVID-19, având scopul de a facilita libertatea de circulație în interiorul Uniunii Europene. Unul dintre elementele importante ale introducerii adeverințelor este interconectarea bazelor de date, ce va conduce la evitarea certificatelor false de testare, care sunt o reală problemă. Pentru a profita de avantajele unei baze de date centralizate la nivelul UE, accesibilă tuturor statelor membre, susțin faptul că trebuie definite reguli clare privind colectarea, prelucrarea și furnizarea accesului la datele respective. Propunerea de regulament prevede însă faptul că responsabilitatea interconectării aparține statelor membre, ceea ce poate conduce la diferențe între țări. De asemenea, atrag atenția asupra unor riscuri, mai exact ca cetățenii din afara spațiului Schengen să fie supuși unor verificări suplimentare. Adeverințele electronice verzi nu trebuie să limiteze libertatea de mișcare la nivel european ci trebuie să ajute inclusiv turismul. Aceste adeverințe trebuie să rămână o facilitate și să nu devină o obligație.

  Alfred Sant (S&D), in writing. – Serious doubts arise that by the summer EU countries will manage to coordinate the reopening of their borders. An EU Digital Green Certificate appears like an appropriate solution at exceptional times, adapted to give a boost to freedom of movement, a fundamental right deeply damaged over the past pandemic year and a boost to devastated economic sectors like tourism, HORECA. On the short to medium term, the creation of such certificate could ensure a more vigorous economic recovery; it would help citizens who built their lives by crossing borders to reunite with their loved ones. There is indeed a sense of urgency to resume travelling in a safe way as countries as speeding up their vaccination plans. Nevertheless, this has to be done under certain conditions to be non-discriminatory and to safeguard free movement on the longer term. It would be granted with proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test, or proof of recovery from the virus, which I think is a balanced answer. One should ensure that this certificate will not be misused in the future by non-state actors. It should finally serve as a pandemic quick fix and return to pre-COVID freedom of travel should be prioritised.

  Ivan Štefanec (PPE), písomne. – Pandémia ochorenia COVID-19 zabránila európskym občanom a občanom tretích krajín žijúcim na území členského štátu vykonávať svoje právo na voľný pohyb. Na zmiernenie týchto následkov by Európska únia mala prijať spoločný rámec digitálneho zeleného osvedčenia ako súčasť elektronického zdravotníctva členských štátov. Digitálne zelené občianstvo by zabezpečilo jednostranný prístup k informáciám o očkovaní, prekonaní ochorenia či testovaní. Na základe týchto informácií by sa občania mohli opätovne slobodne pohybovať, pretože tieto lekárske údaje budú spoľahlivo overiteľné vo všetkých členských štátoch.

  Mihai Tudose (S&D), în scris. – Susțin Regulamentul privind adeverința verde electronică, pentru a accelera procedura de restabilire a circulației libere și sigure în UE. Am în vedere necesitatea deblocării economiei și deschiderii circulației cetățenilor în vară. Pentru a nu exista discriminări între cei vaccinați și cei care nu au făcut vaccinul, vor fi, în fapt, trei certificate de călătorie: pentru cei vaccinați, pentru cei care au un test negativ recent și pentru cei care s-au vindecat de Covid-19. Cele trei adeverințe de călătorie vor fi eliberate gratuit, în format digital sau pe suport de hârtie, în limba oficială a statului emitent și în engleză. Admit că nu este o variantă ideală, dar e mai bine decât să avem 27 de eventuale adeverințe diferite, de la un stat membru la altul, și decât să avem granițe închise și restricții nearmonizate la nivel european. Potrivit calendarului actual, adeverința verde urmează să intre în vigoare în iunie. De aceea, solicit ca negocierile viitoare Parlament-Consiliu, pentru adoptarea regulamentului propus de Comisie, să se desfășoare în regim de urgență, așa cum impune situația. Mai ales, însă, e nevoie ca acest efort normativ să capete cu adevărat o finalitate concretă prin accelerarea campaniei de vaccinare!

  Tom Vandenkendelaere (PPE), schriftelijk. – Ik heb voor de dringende procedure gestemd zodat het Europees Parlement het voorstel van de Europese Commissie voor een Europees vaccincertificaat – waaronder bewijzen van vaccinatie, negatieve testen of bewijzen van herstel zouden vallen – met spoed kan behandelen. Er valt geen tijd te verliezen. Het certificaat zou toestaan om het reizen in Europa weer veilig op gang te brengen en een flinke impuls te geven aan de economie.

Er dient echter een belangrijke voorwaarde aan gekoppeld te worden. Er mag namelijk niet gediscrimineerd worden op basis van het certificaat. Iedere Europeaan moet eerst een kans op een vaccin krijgen. Tegen de zomer zou het in gebruik moeten zijn. Een Europese gemeenschappelijke aanpak is in ieders belang in vergelijking met het alternatief dat elk land op eigen houtje iets anders onderneemt. Als we op één manier honderden miljoenen mensen de kans kunnen geven om terug te keren naar een zekere maat van normaliteit, zonder het virus te verspreiden, is dat in ieders voordeel.

Het geduld van onze burgers wordt op de proef gesteld, veel Europeanen zijn voorstander van zo’n systeem om opnieuw vrij te kunnen reizen. Het is onze plicht om dit zo snel mogelijk te bewerkstelligen.

  Alexandr Vondra (ECR), písemně. – Covid pasy jsou dobrou iniciativou, která pomůže obnovit volné cestování po Evropě. K získání pozitivního osvědčení by měly vést tři cesty – očkování, test či prodělaná nemoc. Odpor, který covid pasy vzbuzují u části lidí v EU, považuji za nedorozumění. Do mnoha států světa bylo třeba mít očkování i před koronavirem, například na žlutou zimnici. Musíme proto vysvětlovat, že jde o opatření dočasné a pragmatické, které nám umožní rychlejší návrat k normálu, byť přizpůsobenému podmínkám pandemie. Je to opatření logické – státy investovaly příliš peněz do lockdownů a vakcinace, než aby si to byly nyní ochotny pokazit kvůli cizincům. Pokud by si podmínky určovaly každý jinak, vznikne chaos. Evropa ale musí zapracovat na tom, aby se k vakcinaci dostali všichni, kdo se naočkovat chtějí. Musí pozitivně motivovat svobodnějším životem. Pas by měl vejít v platnost, až budou tyto podmínky naplněny. Věřme, že to bude už začátkem léta. Proto podporuji zrychlenou proceduru.

  Marco Zanni (ID), per iscritto. – È ormai passato più di un anno dall'inizio di questa pandemia e ancora una voltan ci troviamo a discutere dei problemi che la Commissione (e l'Unione europea in generale) non ha saputo affrontare adeguatamente.

Sulla questione vaccini abbiamo ascoltato slogan estremamente ambiziosi, ricalibrati tuttavia, solo dopo poche settimane per gli errori di valutazione della Commissione. La gestione dei contratti con le case farmaceutiche non è risultata, infatti, all'altezza della situazione e i cittadini ne hanno accusato il colpo.

Per quanto riguarda l'economia, condivido e supporto la proroga della sospensione del Patto di stabilità, ma mi preme sottolineare che rimane il paradosso del dispositivo di Ripresa e resilienza che, con la crisi economica in atto, servirà solo minimamente e i cui fondi sappiamo essere vincolati. Sul tema Turchia, esprimo infine tutte le mie perplessità.

Un Paese che utilizza ancora pratiche violente e antidemocratiche non dovrebbe essere tra le priorità del Consiglio.