The plan for an EU-sponsored digital ‘Green Pass’ that would help open travel and business by providing a reliable proof of vaccination or testing is moving forward, but still has quite a few questions that need answers.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission told German lawmakers Monday that the plan for a pass would definitely be implemented, and would include each individual’s most up-to-date status: vaccinated, or test results for those not yet vaccinated, or details of recovery for those who have had Covid.
The Commission will present the proposal this month to Europe’s legislature in hopes of having it up and running in time for internal European travel this summer. The push for the plan has come especially from southern countries such as Spain and Greece, for whom the summer tourism season is a major prop to the economy.
Greece has already created its own pass together with Israel and Cyprus, and Spain is in discussions with the UK over a mutual system if the EU pass does not come in time. While the UK is now technically a ‘third country’ in EU affairs, it is widely expected that Brits would be able to travel in Europe with a matching credential.
But there are still issues being raised about the ‘Green Pass’ idea, including the widespread call from many people to allow freer travel and access to theaters, restaurants and the like for those who have been vaccinated. Others feel that would create a new class system that would be unfair.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the issue last wee, saying that ““First, it must actually be clearly resolved that vaccinated people are no longer infectious. As long as the number of those who have been vaccinated is still so much smaller than the number who are waiting for vaccination, the state should not treat the two groups differently.” And French President Emanuel Macron pointed out that since young people are not yet eligible for vaccination it would be unfair to them.
