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It is increasingly said that the most realistic measure to renew intra-community travel would be the introduction of a so-called “green passport”.
Already at the beginning of March, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that she would propose to the European Union within a month the rules on the “green passport” for those vaccinated against the coronavirus. According to her, this system would allow people to start traveling safely within or outside the European Union. It has been announced that preparations for the introduction of such certificates should be ready in the next three months, and that the system in force in all Member States will have to comply with all the necessary rules regarding personal data.
Lithuania has previously supported the implementation of such an idea, but the availability of vaccines has been identified as a prerequisite for the success of such a project.
Simon Krėpšta, the president’s senior adviser, has said that although such passports are also used domestically in other countries when deciding on further exemptions for people who have been vaccinated, it would be worth considering when mass vaccination and high vaccine availability.
According to him, “applying certain restrictions within the country without access to vaccines for everyone would certainly not be entirely correct.”
Following the convening of the Council of Health Experts in a remote meeting by President Gitan Nausėda, not only was the epidemiological situation in the country reviewed, but recommendations were also presented for the development of a European Green Digital Certificate in preparation for the European Council this week. .
Head of the President Adviser Simon Krėpšta assured that the President supports this idea and currently explains how he is technically prepared for it.
“It is a way to unblock public life. That passport could be introduced in early summer, “he said.
Currently, in Lithuania, the preparation of the immunity passport is handled by the Registry Center, the European Commission will ensure the development of a common platform and each country will have to use national measures to help collect and manage the information.
According to the President’s Advisor, the Registry Center undertakes to carry out all the work related to the preparation of this immunity passport in early summer.
When developing an immunization certificate in the EU, which would facilitate the movement of people with COVID-19 immunity, it is important to ensure that Lithuania is ready to apply this technology, says a representative of the Health Expert Group.
“A representative from the Registry Center presented the tools that Lithuania is developing. Again, they are harmonizing with Europe, but whenever there is a problem here, the tool will appear and perhaps there is no user who can adapt or accept those tools, so it must be considered from all sides. not only to write that certificate, but also how and where it will be applied, ”Professor Kęstutis Petrikonis of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences told a press conference on Tuesday.
According to him, there are already several local initiatives, both in Lithuania and in other EU countries, to apply this technology earlier.
According to the professor, although Lithuania is lagging behind in terms of vaccination of the elderly population, there is also a higher balance of unused vaccines, it is important to be prepared when this technology is also relevant for Lithuania.
“They still have some doubts about local applications, but we have to be ready, prepare. Once again, when we vaccinate as much as necessary, those varieties will be withdrawn and that freedom to travel and move, all natural freedoms can be realized, ”said K. Petrikonis.
Last week, the European Commission formally launched its initiative on easier and safer travel throughout the Community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The digital immunization certificate is intended not only for people who have been vaccinated, but also for people who have relapsed or have a negative COVID-19 test.
To implement this idea, it is planned to establish a common network, as well as to provide support to the Member States in the development of software for the verification of certificates.
