The European Parliament is preparing to adopt its mandate on the regulation for Digital Green Certificates on 28 April with a broad consensus. This follows a press briefing on Monday 26 April with the main people responsible for this dossier in the European Parliament, namely Tineke Strik for the Greens/EFA, Jeroen Lenaers for the EPP and Sophie in ‘t Veld for Renew Europe.
The three MEPs, accompanied by the Committee on Civil Liberties chair Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, Spain), welcomed the “speed” with which the European Parliament was able to agree on this instrument making it easier for people who have been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from Covid-19 to travel within the EU by presenting a universally-recognised standard document.
“We hope to conclude this dossier quickly with the EU Council”, said Sophie in ‘t Veld, who noted that the fundamental right to free movement had become very “theoretical” because of the pandemic and hoped that this Digital Green Certificate could help to restore this right in a more tangible manner. The Member States reached agreement on 14 April (see EUROPE 12698/3).
For Ms Strik, it is also “essential that there is no discrimination between people” and that those who have not been vaccinated are treated in the same way.
The elected representatives also expressed particular concern over financial non-discrimination, arguing for making all or part of PCR tests free and for a temporary freeze on their cost. Member States will be able to continue to impose measures on entry into their territories, such as PCR tests, in conjunction with the certificate.
Several questions also remain unanswered and will need to be resolved with time and scientific research, such as the still rare cases of vaccinated people contracting Covid-19.
As the elected representatives have repeatedly pleaded, this is why the regulation will have to remain flexible and adapt according to further scientific research. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)