EU Health Ministers Hold Emergency Meeting on 13th
WHO Officials Participate via Video Conference
Interest in Measures to Ban Entry of Chinese Nationals
[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the European region rises to around 40, the European Union (EU) has come together to devise countermeasures. There is growing interest in whether the plan to refuse entry of Chinese nationals into EU countries, which is also being discussed, will be implemented.
On the 13th (local time), according to AP and AFP news agencies, health ministers from the 27 EU member states gathered in Brussels, Belgium, to exchange opinions on measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ways to strengthen cooperation among member states. Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) also participated via video conference.
So far, about 40 confirmed cases have been reported in Europe, including Germany, France, and Italy, with no deaths reported.
AFP reported that the draft response plan prepared ahead of this meeting includes measures to enhance coordination between the EU and each member state to improve the effectiveness of country-specific actions at EU borders. The draft also emphasizes the importance of appropriately sharing information about individuals at high risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus while ensuring free movement within the EU.
Before attending the meeting, Janez Lenar?i?, the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, stated, "The risk of COVID-19 spreading further in Europe is currently low, but it could increase," indicating that the possibility of increase or decrease remains open in both directions.
Accordingly, there is also a possibility of restricting entry of Chinese nationals into EU countries. On the 4th, the health ministers of Germany and France revealed at a joint press conference that they were discussing whether it is possible to restrict entry of foreigners who have visited China. However, such measures would require coordination among the 27 member states to be implemented within the EU.
Meanwhile, the European economy appears to be contracting due to concerns about the COVID-19 virus. The world’s largest mobile exhibition, MWC 2020, which was scheduled to be held in Barcelona, Spain, starting on the 24th (local time), was canceled for the first time in 33 years. John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA (the Global System for Mobile Communications Association), the organizer of MWC, officially announced on the 12th that the event would be canceled.
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