Merkel: EU develops vaccine passport within three months and resumes movement of people

Merkel: EU countries will develop "vaccine passports" within three months to promote the restoration of personnel mobility

　　China News Agency, Berlin, February 25 (Reporter Peng Dawei) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after attending a video summit of EU leaders on the 25th that EU countries are expected to develop digital "vaccine passports" within three months, with the help of " Measures such as "vaccine passport" and COVID-19 testing are expected to help restore the movement of people within the EU.

　　On the same day, Merkel attended the summit of EU leaders remotely via video in Berlin.

She made the above remarks at a press conference held after the meeting.

Data map: German Chancellor Merkel.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Peng Dawei

　　Merkel said that the focus of the day's summit was around the fight against the new crown epidemic.

At present, the number of new confirmed cases in a single day in many EU member states remains at a high level.

She said that considering the mutation of the new coronavirus, some member states are facing a difficult anti-epidemic situation and are more cautious when formulating an "unblocking" strategy.

　　Merkel said that the leaders of EU countries discussed the introduction of digital "vaccine passports" within the EU on the same day, and all parties agreed that such a tool needs to be introduced.

On December 27, local time, many member states of the European Union officially launched the new crown vaccination work.

The picture shows Belgian medical staff preparing for the new crown vaccination work.

　　Merkel predicts that EU countries will develop a "vaccine passport" within three months, and the European Commission will also study and formulate relevant technical premises.

This "vaccine passport" will realize mutual recognition among countries through a gateway at the EU level.

She said that not only will it be possible to resume travel within the EU by then, the "vaccine passport" is even expected to provide a reference for people from third countries outside the EU entering the EU.

　　Merkel pointed out that the governments of the 27 EU countries also agreed that considering the current lack of vaccinations against the new crown, the "vaccine passport" has not yet played any role, but people must start to prepare for it.

She also reminded that the "vaccine passport" alone cannot determine whether people can travel or not. Factors such as the new crown test results should also be taken into consideration.

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