The European Parliament on Friday reconsidered the decision on physical presence in the Chamber for next week’s plenary session in Strasbourg and will allow remote participation in both debates and voting, due to the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the European Union.
In a statement, EP President David Sassoli explained that he had submitted to group chairs a proposal to “reintroduce the remote participation regime in Parliament, applicable from next week”, which would also be used in committee meetings. parliamentary, reports EFE and Agerpres.
“In the last two weeks, the epidemiological situation in the European Union has deteriorated, with an increase in the number of cases, hospitalizations and other indicators. In recent days, I have heard the concerns of many of you, “said Sassoli, who has also contacted Parliament’s General Secretariat and medical services to make the decision.
Sassoli had a meeting on Thursday with the leaders of the majority political groups in the European Parliament, during which they all called for a return to the system they used during the pandemic, so that, for example, not all 705 MEPs sit in the hall for two hours for each vote.
Therefore, Parliament will retain the opportunity to speak in plenary online, from its offices in the Member States, and to vote on forms by e-mail.
Since the beginning of November, Parliament has asked all those who wish to enter its premises to present a digital certificate for Covid-19 to prove their health (vaccinated, cured of infection or with a recent negative PCR), a measure aimed at to restore the normality of parliamentary activity.
However, the number of coronavirus infections is rising again in Europe, so much so that the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that the continent is once again the epicenter of the pandemic, which has led many governments to tighten health measures. .
