The European Union’s vaccine pass, or the digital green certificate, will not be a passport, MEP Roberta Metsola said.
The digital green certificate will act as a certificate showing the bearer's vaccination status or COVID-19 test results. It could also include evidence of having survived the disease. Brussels plans on starting to issue the certificate in June, in time for the EU’s summer vacation period. MEPs gave the plans the green light in a vote held last week.
The parliament's negotiation position was announced Thursday following a vote late Wednesday, with 540 MEPs in favour, 119 against, and 31 abstentions.
Metsola insisted that the certificate “is designed to help people move, not to hinder travel”. “This is not a measure to restrict people’s freedom in any way,” she added.
“What it does is present people with an option- a common certificate for all European citizens. The options will be either having proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test,” she added.
Metsola explained that Covid-19 hit our economies and our quaity of life by hampering EU citizens’ ability to cross borders without any bureaucracy. “Of course, the spread of the virus had to be contained, but now that the vaccination process is speeding up, we must target measures that would ensure the safety of our citizens, give confidence to the process while making sure our economies can start regenerating by allowing tourism and hospitality to function again,” she said.
The certificate would “mean a slow but sure return to a social life and an revitalised economy until herd immunity is guaranteed,” she said.
The measure is also intended to ease the pressure from business owners and employees alike, following the hardships of the pandemic, she said.
Stressing that the certificate should not result in discrimination, parliament demanded that COVID-19 tests for travel should be free of charge. The commission has said that this issue should be left up to member states.
This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author’s view. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
