Czech Business Today
Digital Green Certificate must minimize complexity and facilitate movement of passengers
On 17th of March the European Commission proposed a Digital Green Certificate that should facilitate free movement inside the EU as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The Digital Green Certificate is digital proof that a person has either been vaccinated against COVID-19, has been tested negative or has recently recovered from COVID-19.
The Commission will build a gateway to ensure all certificates can be verified across the EU, and support Member States in the technical implementation of certificates. Member States remain responsible to decide which public health restrictions can be waived for travellers but will have to apply such waivers in the same way to travellers holding a Digital Green Certificate. It will be available, free of charge, in digital or paper format.
EU businesses ask the European co-legislators to agree on the final text as quickly as possible in order to set up a unique approach for travelling in the EU which will help businesses and citizens to move freely within the EU, especially with a vision of the upcoming summer season.
Business representatives stress the importance that there should be no discrimination between EU citizens and they are therefore to be treated in the same way, independently whether they are travelling to their country of residence or not. Minimum common standards for tests in order to avoid further restrictions are encouraged. Business representatives also stress that all efforts to have this system recognized worldwide should be pursued. Adoption of the European Parliament´s negotiating position on the proposal last week is a good step forward.
