MEPs set out their conditions for an ‘EU COVID-19 Certificate’
Published 4 weeks ago
Today (29 April), Parliament adopted its negotiating position on the proposal for what the Commission describes as a ‘Digital Green Certificate’ and what the Parliament prefers to call a ‘EU COVID-19 certificate’ to reaffirm the right to free movement in Europe during the pandemic.
MEPs insist that the documents should be available in digital or paper format and should be in place for twelve months but not longer.
Having agreed their position, and fast-tracked the process by voting this week, both Parliament and Council are ready to begin negotiations. The aim is to reach an agreement ahead of the summer holidays.
EU Parliament Accepts Proposal On COVID 19 Vaccine Certificate
” width=”1080″>The EU has accepted a proposal for a new COVID 19 vaccination certificate ahead of the summer travel season. Credit: George Kokkinidis Greek Reporter
The Parliament of the European Union announced on Thursday that lawmakers have reached an agreement on the proposal for developing a COVID 19 vaccine certificate ahead of the summer travel season.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, tweeted that now negotiations must start with the European Council’s presidency.
” width=”1080″>“The European Parliament decision on adopting its position on a Digital Green Certificate is a key step towards free and safe travel this summer,” said von der Leyen on Twitter.
On April 29, MEPs adopted the Parliamentâs negotiating position on the proposal for a certificate to reaffirm the right to free movement in Europe during the pandemic, noting that the new âEU COVID-19 certificateâ – instead of Digital Green Certificate, as proposed by the Commission – should be in place for 12 months and not longer.
The document, which may be in digital or paper format, will attest that a person has been vaccinated against coronavirus or, alternatively, that they have a recent negative test result or have recovered from the infection. However, MEPs stressed that EU COVID-19 certificates will neither serve as travel document nor become a precondition to exercise the right to free movement.
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Photo Credit: Erich Westendarp/Pixabay
People who have been vaccinated
should not be subject to additional
travel restrictions, such as quarantine, self-isolation or testing, while Covid testing should be universally free, says the European Parliament.
The Parliament, which is setting out
its negotiating position on the issue of Europe-wide digital health
certificates, said the move was necessary in order to avoid discrimination
against those not vaccinated and for economic reasons.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) also said the new document should
be known as an EU Covid-19 certificate rather than the Digital Green
Certificate name proposed by the European Commission and should be in place for