EU leaders are holding a video conference on Thursday evening to discuss the epidemiological situation and the harmonisation of measures in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

This will be the first virtual EU summit this year, after eight video summits on efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic were held last year.

The summit will focus on the present epidemiological situation, the risk of new strains of the coronavirus and the vaccination process, which has slowed down after the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced a reduction in vaccine production over the next few weeks.

Also discussed will be vaccination certificates, a very sensitive issue that raises many questions. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called for the creation of an EU-wide COVID-19 vaccination certificate as part of efforts to revive the tourist industry. The certificates would be used as passports and would allow vaccinated people to travel freely.

Also on the agenda will be solidarity with third countries. European Council President Charles Michel has said that the COVID-19 vaccine must be a global good available to all. The Commission has proposed setting up a mechanism for the distribution of a portion of the 2.3 billion doses which the EU has booked so far to Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries and southern neighbours in Africa.