PM for keeping restraint, if needed despite vaccine certificate

Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Tuesday underscored the importance of maintaining restrictions, if the health situation requires despite introducing digital certificate to ease health-secure travel across borders.

“The digital certificate will facilitate health-secure travel across borders. At the same time, it is important that Member States may maintain restrictions if the health security situation so requires. We need to stay vigilant regarding the emergence and spread of variants and to take decisive action as necessary,” said the Premier at the European Council meeting.

On its second meeting day, the special European Council urged Member States to implement the EU Digital COVID Certificate rapidly, said a government press release.

The leaders welcome the accelerated pace of vaccinations and the introduction of the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The European Council urges all Member States to implement the digital certificate during the summer.

Finland will implement its national COVID-19 vaccination certificate tomorrow and it will be compatible with the EU system.

The EU leaders also discussed climate change and provided the European Commission with additional guidance for the preparation of its proposals on effort sharing.

“The Commission has an important duty to come up with balanced legislative proposals that enable us to reach the EU’s new 2030 target with joint action. The proposals should give greater attention to cost-effectiveness and it must be possible for all Member States to start on the path towards emissions reductions as required by the climate neutrality target,” said Marin.