British officials say they will discuss with Brussels proposals for a vaccine passport which the EU hopes will revive international travel ahead of the summer holidays.
The EU’s plan for a digital ‘green pass’ was revealed today by commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.
She said: ‘We’ll present this month a legislative proposal for a Digital Green Pass.’
British officials want the UK to use its presidency of the G7 group of industrialised countries to help agree an international approach to the issue.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘We have said that we are looking at the issue of vaccine passports.
‘As you can expect, DfT (the Department for Transport) will work (with) and do speak to countries across the world in terms of how they may look to introduce passports.’
The European Commission is set to propose that members of the EU operate using a digital ‘green pass’, commission chief Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) has said
The aim of the pass is to provide proof of vaccination, results of tests for those who have not yet been vaccinated, and information on Covid-19 recovery.
By introducing the new green passes, von der Leyen said people will gradually be able to ‘move safely in the European Union or abroad – for work or tourism’.
The commission chief also said that the digital pass would ‘respect data protection, security & privacy.’
Separately, in a meeting with German MEPs and MPs, von der Leyen said her EU executive would ‘in coming months’ seek to create a technical base for the digital certificate so it is based on the same information in all 27 member countries.
Her vice president, Margaritis Schinas, said in a news conference that the commission’s legislation was expected to be submitted to the European Parliament on March 17, and that it would then be given to EU leaders at a March 25 summit for adoption.
The green pass idea follows in the footsteps of Israel, who uses it as a way of providing bearers greater freedom of movement
Von der Leyen said last week, after an EU video summit on the issue, that the vaccine certificate could be launched in three months’ time, and that any pass must uphold EU data protection standards.
The European Commission’s proposal follows in the footsteps of Israel, the world’s vaccination champion.
Only people who have received the required two vaccinations receive the green passport in Israel which grants them greater freedom of movement.
Israel has been leading the world on the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccinations, but only half of its population of nine million people has so far received the required two jabs for a passport.
Inside Israel, green passports or badges obtained through an app is the coin of the realm. The country recently reached agreements with Greece and Cyprus to recognize each other’s green badges, and more such tourism-boosting accords are expected.
Anyone unwilling or unable to get the jabs that confer immunity will be ‘left behind,’ said Health Minister Yuli Edelstein.
Von der Leyen said last week, after an EU video summit on the issue, that the vaccine certificate could be launched in three months’ time, and that any pass must uphold EU data protection standards
There is still a big debate in the EU, however, over how such a European green pass might be used.
Tourist-dependent countries, such as Greece, and airline lobby groups want the document to serve as a ‘vaccine passport’, allowing immunised people to avoid tests or quarantine when travelling.
But most EU countries, led by France and Germany, believe that this is premature while vaccinations are available only to a small fraction of the population, and all the currently approved vaccines require two injections for immunisation.
They fear it would create a two-tier society where inoculated people enjoy a restriction-free life while the majority, waiting for their jabs, continue to have their activities curtailed.
Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes echoed those concerns in a tweet on Monday, saying: ‘For Belgium, there is no question of linking vaccination to the freedom of movement around Europe.
‘Respect for the principle of non-discrimination is more fundamental than ever since vaccination is not compulsory and access to the vaccine is not yet generalised.’