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 Airlines are pressing governments for alternatives to blanket curbs
on movement amid a second wave of COVID-19 sweeping Europe, with
Lufthansa <LHAG.DE> and Alitalia <LHAG.DE> spearheading the use of
rapid antigen tests.
But many EU governments are not ready for common procedures on the
tests which would help ease travel across Europe, according to the
document prepared by the German government, which currently holds
the EU's rotating presidency.
"A large number of member states made clear that discussions on
common minimum standards and criteria were premature," the paper,
dated Nov. 12, says.
The document will be on the table when EU leaders discuss
coordination in fighting the pandemic in a video conference on
Thursday.
Rapid antigen kits are less accurate than standard PCR (polymerase
chain reaction) tests, but can offer results in a few minutes, as
opposed to days.
European airlines are using them on passengers before departure,
allowing only those who test negative to travel. But the testing is
largely limited to domestic flights, partly because of European
countries' reluctance to apply consistent rules.
Some governments seek more scientific evidence behind rapid testing,
the German document says. Many say testing is a national issue for
which there is no need for a common approach, the document says
without naming any state.
The executive EU Commission will issue a recommendation on how to
use rapid testing on Wednesday, but governments are not obliged to
heed it.
The commission had also planned to issue advice on Wednesday on
quarantine and self-isolation for those who come into contact with
people who test positive for COVID-19 - but it has now decided to
delay the non-binding proposal because of contrasting scientific
advice, an EU official said.
A commission spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
"IT IS A DISASTER"
That comes as a further blow for the industry, as common quarantine
rules would eliminate another major hurdle to travelers, who now
have to abide by different requirements when they cross a national
EU border.
"The approaches of member states on quarantine obligations in
connection with travel differ considerably," the German document
says.
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At a video conference in late October, EU leaders pledged to do more together
for testing and tracing, and avoid divisions that dogged the 27-nation bloc at
the beginning of the pandemic in the spring, when many countries closed their
borders contributing to medicine shortages and food blockages.
But immediately after the virtual summit, national experts in technical meetings
kept dragging their feet.
"It is a disaster," a second EU official said, adding that diplomats and experts
showed little appetite for more cooperation.
The German document was initially labeled a "progress report", but it has been
renamed "report on the state of play of EU coordination" against the pandemic,
because there had been "little progress", a European diplomat said.
"The report provides a snapshot of the state of play on a number of COVID-19
related topics. Given that the issues addressed are all matters of national
competency, we will continue to work intensively with our EU partners and the
commission to take EU coordination forward," a spokesman for the German
presidency said.
On tracing, which is essential to monitor the spread of the disease, the EU
Commission has set up a platform that would allow national apps to work across
EU borders, so that people can continue to be traced when they are abroad.
But at present only six national apps have joined the common platform, the
document says, adding however that other 19 were lined up to be added by the end
of this month.
A common digital form to locate passengers is still a work in progress.
Currently states use these forms for different purposes, some of them only on
paper.
The document says that the goal is to have a system in place for all types of
transport by April.
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio in Brussels; additional
reporting by Emilio Parodi in Milan; editing by Nick Macfie)
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