European Parliament to require that lawmakers and staff show valid Covid pass before entering – reports
The EU's Directorate General for Personnel has informed lawmakers and staff they will have to show a Covid pass to enter parliamentary buildings in Brussels, Luxembourg or Strasbourg from November 3, according to media reports.
The measure will come into effect on Wednesday after a majority of the European Parliament’s Vice Presidents backed requiring a Covid pass to limit the risk of spreading the virus, an email sent by the EU office, seen by POLITICO, confirmed.
The decision by Klaus Welle, the secretary-general of the European Parliament, to sign off on the Covid pass requirement sparked some opposition from MEPs, who suggested it is a “breach” of their fundamental rights.
“To our knowledge, the European Parliament would be the first in Europe to implement such a measure,” a group of MEPs stated, in a letter to European Parliament President David Sassoli.
“This would breach a very fundamental principle in a democratic house: never should an elected representative, having fulfilled all legal obligations, be prevented from entering the Parliament,” François-Xavier Bellamy from the EPP, Michèle Rivasi from the Greens, Virginie Joron from the Identity and Democracy group and Anne-Sophie Pelletier from The Left, among others, stated.
Also on rt.com France detains UK trawler in English Channel as row over fishing licenses heats upThe email announcing the restriction comes as EU member state Slovakia was reportedly forced to cancel a parliamentary session after a lawmaker tested positive for Covid. The Slovakian legislature has apparently been adjourned until November 2 following the confirmed infection of a member of the ruling coalition.
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