Le new travel rules imposed by Italy did not please Brussels. From Thursday 16 December until 31 January 2022, even those in possession of the green pass will have to present the negative result of the swab when returning to the country (for the antigenic one 24 hours before, for the molecular one in the previous 48 hours). While those who are not vaccinated, in addition to the swab, will also have to stay in quarantine for 5 days once arrived in Italy. Except for children under 12, children of vaccinated parents, who are not required to self-isolate even if not vaccinated. Things change if instead parents have not undergone the injection, in which case their children are also forced into quarantine.
The rules apply to all those returning to Italy. The new ordinance was passed by the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, and by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, in view of the trips for the Christmas holidays and the growing concern about the diffusion of the new Omicron variant, especially in Europe.
But the European Commission did not appreciate the move by the Italian government, worried that community coordination would be lost and that they could undermine "people's confidence that conditions are the same everywhere in the European Union". This was stated by the vice president of the EU Commission, Vera Jourova, asking for "explanations from Italy". The appointment is for the European Council which begins today, Thursday 16 December, a very dense meeting where the question of compulsory vaccination will also be on the table.
What annoyed the Commission was not so much the choice as the method. As required by the regulation, Italy should have informed Brussels 48 hours before the entry into force of the new measures. Now the fear is that Italy's decisive step could also lead other member states to take action without notifying or waiting for instructions from the EU.
"When the Member States introduce additional conditions or make the rules more stringent, as in the case of Italy and Portugal - explained Jourova -, the choice must be justified on the basis of the real situation". Apparently, the expiry date of January 31 also seems "excessive" for the people of Brussels.
But Super Mario is not intimidated. "A swab is enough to enter, I don't think there is much to think about". To justify this ordinance the data on the incidence of Omicron variant in Italy: according to the ISS it is only 0,19%, while abroad it is rampant, especially in Great Britain and Denmark.
Draghi does not waver, neither against the accusations from Brussels nor the perplexities within the majority, with the League in the first place which did not like the extension of the reinforced green pass in the white zone until March 31 and the extension of the state of emergency, but he preferred not to "argue".
However, the discontent in Brussels does not seem to have lasted long. Always convinced that Rome has not complied with the regulation of EU covid certificate (the official notification of the measure), but aware that the current pandemic situation leaves no way out for indecision. The question of travel and movement will in any case be on the table of the EU Council scheduled for today and in which Draghi participates in person like the other European leaders.
In any case, Rome was not the first. The. had already moved in this direction Portugal, although he had informed Brussels in time. Me too'Ireland has imposed the obligation of the test for everyone as early as 5 December. Now it has been added Greece which will introduce the obligation of a negative molecular swab for travelers returning home from 19 December. With the exception of those who have been in another European country for less than 48 hours.
