Rome-The European Commission will introduce legislation in March to pave the way for the “Digital Green Pass” COVID-19 passport, with a view to opening up travel for vaccinated people.
European Commission Director Ursula von der Lehn announced on Monday that the move was criticized for the possibility of discriminating against those who are not easily accessible to vaccines. She told German parliamentarians on Monday: “We will submit a legislative proposal in March.” She said in a follow-up tweet: “The purpose is to gradually enable them to work or travel safely within the EU or abroad.”
Not surprisingly, this move has not been unanimously accepted by all EU member states. Greece, which relies on tourists, has created its own COVID-19 passport with the aim of opening up the country’s picturesque islands this summer. Due to efforts to control who enters the island, Sardinia, Italy is currently the only unrestricted “white area” in Italy. The island also stated that only vaccinated people can disembark.
The Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, Spain, and Portugal have all received the full course of vaccination related to the national health plan, but all have obtained national certificates, although they have not been recognized on a transnational level.
Spain and Italy also applaud the EU-wide initiatives, while France and Belgium (which face obstacles to the introduction of vaccines) criticized the plan, saying it would only pave the way for discrimination.
Several countries have also argued that it is necessary to prove that vaccinated people cannot transmit the virus, which has not been confirmed by the larger medical community or the World Health Organization.
In January, the European Union agreed on the metric for European vaccination certificates, but the new legislation will lay the groundwork for eventually surpassing Europeans and even allow foreigners who can prove that they have been vaccinated without being quarantined to enter the European Union.
Von der Leyen also stated that she believes that 70% of adult 27-year-old members should be vaccinated before the age of 27, calling this “a goal that we have confidence in.”
Source link
