The European Commission said Thursday that it is monitoring Portugal’s introduction to ensure that all passengers test negative for Covid-19, even if they were vaccinated and recovered in the European Union (EU), awaiting a reassessment “in the very near future.”

“It remains critical to ensure that any measures taken are proportionate, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely and maintain contact with the Portuguese authorities. In the very near future, there will certainly be a need for an assessment of measures, ”says a written reply sent to Luza, Community Justice Officer Christian Wiegand.

The reaction came after exactly a week ago, the Portuguese government announced the introduction of a test for all citizens arriving in the national territory, despite the regulation of the EU digital certificate for Covid-19. not foresee additional measures for those who have a valid document like vaccinated or cured of the disease.

Airport wristbands for citizen control. Anyone who arrives from outside the European Union without testing is repatriated.

“Given the current situation obscure and evolving with a new version [a Ómicron], we understand that the measures notified by Portugal are precautionary measures, ”adds Christian Wiegand in response to Luce.

The Portuguese government announced new measures last Thursday in response to the worsening Covid-19 pandemic in Portugal, demanding a presentation a negative diagnostic test for all passengers departing to Portugal take effect from this Wednesday, regardless of the point of departure and the nationality of the passenger. This measure even extends to holders of EU Covid-19 digital certificates.

It was one of the measures approved by the Council of Ministers last Thursday, hours after the European Commission proposed to strengthen travel coordination in the EU due to an increase in SARS-CoV-2 cases, suggesting that those vaccinated are not subject to additional restrictions. and unvaccinated, are undergoing further testing, and that the scientific community has discovered a highly mutated variant of Omicron.

According to the European Commission, until the beginning of this week, Portugal was the only member state that required additional measures for passengers with a valid EU digital certificate of Covid-19, after it was also a country that facilitated the signing of a regulation on this free transit for free movement in the community space during the Portuguese Presidency of the Union in the first half of this year.

However, the community leader has been informed by Ireland of the introduction of “pre-departure tests for all travelers arriving within two weeks starting December 3rd,” promotes Christian Wiegand to Lusa.

In response to Luz’s question, the spokesperson recalls that the Covid-19 digital certificate regulation stipulates that “Member States shall refrain from impose additional restrictions on certificate holdersunless they are necessary and proportionate to protecting public health in response to a pandemic. “

“When Member States decide to impose additional restrictions, for example, due to a new option of concern, they must inform the Commission and other Member States 48 hours in advance,” he recalls speaking in the need to “maintain a coherent approach”.

In a recommendation published last week, the European Commission proposed a “tailor-made approach”, on the condition that anyone with a “valid EU Digital Covid-19 certificate would, in principle, not subject to additional restrictions such as testing or quarantine, regardless of the place of departure “in the Union.

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For its part, “people without an EU digital certificate for Covid-19 may be required to take a pre- or post-arrival test,” the institution suggested to the member states that will make the final travel decision.