EU: the "health pass" wants to save tourism without restricting free movement
The European Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and her Justice Commissioner DIdier Reynders, during a press conference on the project of the European vaccine certificate, in Brussels on March 17, 2021. AFP - JOHN THYS
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
At the request of the 27 Member States, the European Commission presented its proposal for a “European digital pass” on Wednesday March 17th.
If the project was born from the idea of a vaccine passport in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the document is intended to make travel more fluid without being a "prerequisite" for free movement, according to the European Union (EU ).
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This
European digital pass
is supposed to make crossing the Schengen borders more fluid.
It is also the paradox of this project to see the European Commission put forward a tool that could possibly limit free movement,
reports our correspondent in Brussels,
Pierre Benazet
.
The European Commission defends itself by asserting that it is not a vaccination passport and that the countries of the Union will not be able to refuse entry to non-holders of this digital pass.
But it can be used to avoid being imposed long quarantines.
But the European Commission wants to avoid giving the impression that it allows a restriction of freedoms.
“
We want to help Member States restore freedom of movement in a safe, responsible and trustworthy way,
” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained during a press conference.
Demand from tourism dependent countries
Even if the vaccination campaigns are still struggling - only 3.5% of the European population has received the two doses of vaccination necessary, according to a count made Wednesday March 17 by AFP -, it is
claimed by the countries more dependent on tourism
, Greece in the lead.
The European aviation industry has also welcomed the project.
Other states, on the other hand, are more reluctant and in particular refuse binding rules.
The certificate is intended to "
facilitate
" free movement in the EU but should not be a "
precondition
" to this freedom,
according to the text published by the European Commission
.
A "
temporary
"
document
The aim is for
it to be operational before the summer
, in June if possible, said the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders.
Valid in all European countries, it may be suspended at the end of the pandemic.
"
We will have the possibility of suspending the certificate as soon as the WHO has noted the end of the pandemic
," explains Didier Reynders.
So, it is purely a certificate dedicated
to Covid-19.
Of course, I say "
suspend
" because we might have to reuse the same instrument if another pandemic were to occur
.
But there is no doubt about its temporary shutter.
"
In practice, this document can be printed or saved in a mobile phone, and it will include in particular a QR code in which three data can be recorded: vaccination, having had Covid-19, or screening. negative.
No discrimination against the unvaccinated
Key elements of @EU_Commission proposal for a #DigitalGreenCertificate:
✅Accessible and secure certificates
✅Non-discriminatory
✅Certificates will only include essential info & will be safe and secure 🇪🇺
➡️ https://t.co/a4gNvIgR7g pic.twitter.com / U7zAQhD9M8
- Didier Reynders (@dreynders) March 17, 2021
Unvaccinated people, because they are not part of the priority population groups or because they do not wish to be, must be able to continue to travel, being subjected, if necessary, to measures such as quarantine.
But a state that would impose a quarantine or a test on the holders of this certificate or prevent them from entering its territory would have to answer for this decision to Brussels.
The Commission also claims that this pass
can also be used for other things
, for example access to festivals, discos or cinema, as the Member States wish.
According to Brussels, a "
very high degree of protection
" is provided for the personal data that will be contained in these certificates.
This by providing in particular that they cannot be kept by the countries of destination.
►
To read also:
Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca in turmoil
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