Digital Covid passport for foreign travel may be in place by summer, says EU Commission
THE European Commission will this month unveil plans for a digital Covid-19 vaccination passport that would allow people to travel more freely in the peak summer holiday period.
The EU executive aims to present its plans for a ‘digital green pass’ on March 17 and to co-operate with international organisations to ensure its system also works beyond the EU, commission president Ursula von der Leyen said yesterday.
Ireland’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, last night said the EU proposal is ‘under consideration’ and that ‘we will engage with our colleagues across Europe on it over the coming weeks’.
Dr Glynn said that as 80% of the Irish population will have had one dose of a Covid vaccine by the end of June, the proposal certainly merits consideration.
Announcing the news in a video conference with German conservative lawmakers yesterday, Ms von der Leyen said: ‘As for the question of what the digital green passport could look like, we will submit a legislative proposal in March.’
She later provided further information on her Twitter account, writing: ‘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, info on Covid-19 recovery. It will respect data protection, security and privacy.
‘There is lots of work to do’
The aim is to gradually enable people to move safely in the European Union or abroad – for work or tourism.’
Currently, a number of organisations are working to develop the necessary software.
Last week, Ms von der Leyen said that it could take up to three months to set up such a system. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels last Thursday, she said: ‘The time frame, the three months, is regarding the technical development, so we do need at least three months for the technical development of an interoperable system on the European level.’
She added: ‘There is lots of work to do by the commission on the European level and lots of work to do technically for the member states on a national level.’
Deutsche Telekom, which is partly state-owned, said yesterday it had submitted a pitch to the German government to design a digital vaccination passport, as part of European efforts to reopen travel for those who have protection against Covid-19.
Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune welcomed the news. The Fine Gael politician said: ‘This European pass will aim to help to facilitate travel in Europe for work and tourism. There is work to be done yet in terms of how it will work, but we would hope that it will help to facilitate safe travel within the EU when appropriate.’
Ms Clune said it is expected that the pass ‘will provide proof that a person who is travelling has been vaccinated against Covid-19, while it will also show test results for people who have not yet received a vaccine’.
She added: ‘Ms von der Leyen said the aim of the pass is to gradually enable Europeans to move safely in the EU or abroad. We must continue, of course, to do all we can to ensure people are safe from Covid-19, but it is important too that we consider proposals like this as more people are vaccinated.’