The European Commission will present in March a draft digital “green passport” attesting to vaccination against Covid or negative tests to travel more freely, announced its president Ursula von der Leyen, while the rights associated with this document divide the Twenty seven. “We will present this month a legislative proposal for a ‘Digital Green Pass'”, with the objective of “gradually enabling Europeans to move safely within the EU or outside, for work or tourism, “Ursula von der Leyen posted on Twitter.
In addition to vaccination and tests, this passport could also indicate whether a person “can be considered as immune because of his health situation, the presence of antibodies,” said Monday a spokesperson for the Commission.
After agreeing in January on the principle of shared standards for this certificate, the heads of state and government advocated Thursday “a common approach”. “We propose to ensure coordination on the criteria (…) and to create a platform which would connect the various national solutions”, had indicated Thursday Ursula von der Leyen, estimating that this preparatory work with the States would take “at least three months”. She also recalled the “scientific questions”, noting that there was no definitive proof that one stops transmitting the virus after being vaccinated.
This proposal “aims, on the basis of the information available in this certificate, to facilitate freedom of movement”, underlined the spokesperson, noting that respect for free movement is a competence of Brussels. The system “will respect the protection, security and privacy of personal data,” Ursula von der Leyen promised Monday.
Some states, including France, consider the question of the rights attached to a vaccination “passport” premature, fearing deep inequalities when less than 5% of Europeans have been vaccinated at present. But other countries want a quick adoption, including Austria or Greece, anxious to save its summer season.