Debate: EU strategy for sustainable tourism
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 MARCH 2021
Speaker: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Language: EN

The Commission shares your vision and goals for a sustainable, digital and resilient tourism ecosystem. The pandemic has deeply disrupted Europe’s tourism ecosystem, weakening its immediate ability to invest and rebound. It has affected all regions of Europe, and particularly harshly those heavily reliant on tourism, including coastal areas, islands and the EU’s outermost regions. At the same time, there is hope. Europeans are eager to travel again. As the epidemiological situation remains worrisome, we need to put in place measures that protect public health and ensure safety but that also allow safe travel and tourism.  We need to protect businesses and jobs in tourism and exploit the business potential of greening the sector. The EU has mobilised unprecedented emergency support for the tourism ecosystem and individual companies. We have also been working with Member States to coordinate action as regards restrictions of free movement and safety measures. Thanks to the EU vaccination strategy and efforts made across the EU, we can expect that Member States will be gradually reopening to tourists in the coming months. To facilitate a safe reopening, the Commission proposed last week a package of measures, including a legislative proposal for a Digital Green Certificate.  Currently, Member States have different conditions of entry, such as PCR tests and quarantine. We already have many problems in the recognition of test results from other Member States. With the rollout of vaccinations, the worry is that Member States propose diverse solutions on how to allow vaccinated citizens to enter their country and on how to prove that they are vaccinated. This could lead to a real barrier to free movement and to the functioning of the single market.  Hence the need for a European solution applied evenly by all countries. Let me be clear: this certificate is non—discriminatory. It cannot and should not be used as a precondition for free movement, nor should it be used as a tool for border control. It will include proof that a person has been vaccinated or the results of tests and information on COVID—19 recovery. With the summer travel season approaching, the certificate should be in place by mid—June at the latest. In parallel to the institutional negotiations, the Member States and the Commission are already working on the technical solution. The Commission is counting on your support for its swift adoption. Health and safety standards are key to reassure travellers and tourists. They also guarantee a level playing field for businesses. The Commission has asked the European Standardisation Organisation to work on a standardisation product for all EU tourism businesses, with an easily recognisable visual identity. This should also be ready in time for the summer. Regarding the long—term perspective, the Commission is fully mobilised to help restart the tourism ecosystem with concrete actions. Following the safe reopening package of last week, the Commission will propose next month an updated industrial strategy. It will include measures to draw lessons from the crisis and strengthen the resilience of the single market economy and its 14 industrial ecosystems, including tourism. The Commission is also working with Member States and stakeholders to develop a European agenda for tourism with a shared long—term roadmap. Among the priorities, we are considering sustainable destination and tourism services, including an EU Ecolabel and EMAS tourist accommodation.  The European Year of Rail is an excellent opportunity to boost sustainable ways of travelling and unlock new destinations when tourism can restart. We also need digitalisation and improved data sharing to allow for informed, safe travel spread across more destinations and, of course, the upskilling and reskilling of workers, including through the Pact for Skills in tourism. Due to the pandemic, the investment needs of the tourism ecosystem are the highest among all the industrial ecosystems. In this context, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, along with the new multiannual financial framework, will play a crucial role. We hope that Member States and the tourism industry will seize these unprecedented opportunities. Honourable Members of Parliament, protecting businesses and jobs will be at the heart of the EU’s agenda, as will our commitment to help rebuild resilient and sustainable tourism. I am confident that together we can relaunch a stronger tourism ecosystem and maintain the European Union as the world’s leading destination.