Plans to introduce a Digital Green Certificate or Covid Vaccine Passport to allow “safe free movement” within the EU during the Covid-19 pandemic have been given the green light.
The European Union’s executive body has proposed the introduction of coronavirus passes to let its 450 million residents travel freely across the 27-nation bloc by the summer.
The plan, which will be discussed next week during a summit of EU leaders.
“We all want the tourist season to start. We can’t afford to lose another season,” European Commission vice president Vera Jourova told Czech radio.
“Tourism, and also culture and other sectors that are dependent on tourism, terribly suffer. We’re talking about tens of millions of jobs.
The document available in digital or paper form Digital Green Certificate will act as proof a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, received a negative test result or recovered from having had the virus.
It will state if a person has received a Covid-19 vaccine, and their results of any Covid tests. The document will be free, and in English, including a QR code for authentication.
Member states will remain responsible for deciding which public health restrictions can be waived for travellers in their countries, but will have to apply waivers in the same way to travellers holding a Digital Green Certificate.
- The Digital Green Certificate will cover three types of certificates –vaccination certificates, test certificates (NAAT/RT-PCR test or a rapid antigen test), and certificates for persons who have recovered from COVID-19.
- The certificates will be issued in a digital form or on paper. Both will have a QR code that contains necessary key information as well as a digital signature to make sure the certificate is authentic.
- The Commission will build a gateway and support states to develop software that authorities can use to verify all certificate signatures across the EU. No personal data of the certificate holders passes through the gateway, or is retained by the verifying state.
- The certificates will be available free of charge and in the official language or languages of the issuing Member State and English.
- The certificates will include a limited set of information such as name, date of birth, date of issuance, relevant information about vaccine/test/recovery and a unique identifier of the certificate. This data can be checked only to confirm and verify the authenticity and validity of certificates.
The World Travel & Tourism Council president and chief executive Gloria Guevara said: “This would provide a significant and much needed boost to economies and save millions of jobs and livelihoods.
“The onus is now on member states and the European Parliament to adopt this new initiative, and we urge them to take the necessary steps to implement it as a matter of urgency.
“The proposed Digital Green Certificate, along with enhanced health and hygiene measures and mandatory mask wearing, will provide the reassurance consumers need to book their trips and ensure the return of safe international travel.”
