Nearly 200 MEPs are preparing to shake up Strasbourg in the face of the peak of Covid
Nearly 200 MEPs want to work remotely next week, rather than attending the plenary session in Strasbourg, following an upsurge in Covid-19 cases in certain regions of Europe.
“We are concerned that 705 members will vote in the plenary session next week,” notes the letter sent to Parliament Speaker David Sassoli on Wednesday (November 17th).
Written by center-right German MEPs Angelika Niebler and Daniel Caspary, the letter calls for a return to a so-called “special diet”, which mixes virtual and physical work.
“Considering the current pandemic situation, we want to avoid having so many colleagues and employees sitting together for so long without any distance,” they said.
The letter includes MEPs from all political groups and comes amid a surge in infections. Although initially signed by 179 deputies, others have since been added.
“Unfortunately, so far we have not received any response from President Sassoli,” Caspary’s office said in an early evening email Thursday.
Belgium, home to the EU institutions, noted a 27% increase in infections over the past week.
It recorded more than 19,000 infections as of Monday alone, although deaths remain relatively low compared to other EU states. Around 2,800 people are currently treated in hospitals, including 568 in intensive care.
France, where next week’s plenary is scheduled to take place, recorded nearly 20,300 daily cases on Wednesday.
The European Parliament has already recently imposed temporary entry measures, requiring MEPs and others to present a Covid pass or negative test to enter its premises, as well as face masks.
The rules came as Sassoli demanded a physical return from EU lawmakers, amid reports of dozens of infections – mostly contracted outside his premises.
A deputy spokesperson confirmed that four infections had been contracted within the European Parliament itself.
Discussions take place between group leaders on possible next steps.
But Klause Welle, the highest administrator of the European Parliament seems to have taken over.
On Wednesday, he sent an email letting staff know he can work remotely from home from November 20.
Welle noted “recent cases of internal infections in the European Parliament” as well as the latest decision by Belgian authorities, among the reasons for the decision.
Belgian restrictions, announced earlier this week, impose a four-day work-from-home rule until mid-December.
For its part, the European Commission has said it will also follow Belgian rules.
“We will ask our staff to telecommute four days a week from Monday, as was decided yesterday,” a spokesperson for the committee told reporters.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says peaks in infection are mainly due to unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals.
The agency warned in late September that lifting restrictions in countries with vaccination rates below 75% would lead to an increase in cases.
“In such a scenario, due to the very high viral circulation, fully vaccinated vulnerable populations are also at risk of contracting an infection with a severe outcome,” he noted.