Context

The European Commission proposed to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate the safe and free movement of citizens within the European Union (EU) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

About

• A Digital Green Certificate is proof that a person has either been vaccinated against COVID-19, has received a negative test result, or has recovered from COVID-19.

Key Features of this proposal

• Digital or paper format: The key features of the certificate are that it will be in digital or paper format complete with a QR code and will be free of charge.
• Multiple authorities: The certificate can be issued by authorities, including hospitals, testing centers, and health authorities.
• Accepted in all EU countries: Once the proposal for digital certificates is finalized, it will be accepted in all EU countries and will help to ensure that the restrictions imposed in different areas within the EU can be lifted in a coordinated manner.
• For third-country nationals too: All EU citizens or third-country nationals who are legally staying in the EU will be able to use these digital certificates and thereby will be exempted from free movement restrictions.
• Notification: In case an EU member country requires a person to quarantine or undergo a test, it will have to notify the Commission and all other member states justifying its decision.
• Brand: Significantly, the brand or kind of anti-COVID vaccine received does not matter for the certificate to be issued.

Need for this reform

• In the EU and across the world, the tourism industry has been severely impacted due to the spread of the disease.
• Israel became the first country to issue certificates called “vaccine passports” that will allow vaccinated individuals to use some facilities and attend events.
• Denmark also said that it was in the process of rolling out digital passports that would act as proof for those individuals who have been vaccinated.

Chile had proposed “release certificates” meant for those who had recovered from COVID-19.