EU to present 'digital green pass' proposal this month
James ChappleAn EU-wide digital Covid health pass could be rolled out in a matter of months, it has been confirmed, and could play a key role in restarting intercontinental – and international – leisure travel in Europe.
The EU will present a formal legislative proposal for a digital Covid health pass later this month said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday (1 March).
It follows talks between EU heads of state last week. German chancellor Angela Merkel said about three months technical work would be required.
The proposed "green pass" would allow people to move freely between EU countries based on either digital vaccine certification, or Covid testing results.
Merkel added it could "pave the way for further travel from third countries into the EU"; after the UK left the EU on 1 January, it is now considered a third country.
On Monday, von der Leyen said: "We’ll present this month a legislative proposal for a Digital Green Pass. The aim is to provide: proof that a person has been vaccinated; results of tests for those who couldn’t get a vaccine yet; and info on Covid-19 recovery."
Von der Leyen said the pass would "respect data protection, security and privacy", adding it should "facilitate Europeans’ live".
"The aim is to gradually enable them to move safely in the European Union or abroad – for work or tourism," she added.
A number of countries in Europe have confirmed they will seek Covid-19 vaccine certification, including Greece and Denmark.
Several airlines, meanwhile, have set out plans to adopt digital health passes to certify vaccination and test results, many using Iata’s Travel Pass as a template. Most recently, Malaysia Airlines announced its travel pass plans on Monday (1 March).
Last week, Tui chief Fritz Joussen praised the concepts presented by European countries for restarting travel, highlighting how at the heart of these plans were testing, and uniform proof of vaccination and immunity.
"A European vaccination passport can help restore freedom to travel. There is no doubt about that," said Joussen.
"With a uniform EU certificate, politicians can now create an important basis for summer travel. As long as not everyone can be vaccinated, rapid tests are the second important building block for safe holidays. They are reliable and are now available in sufficient numbers."
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