The idea of ​​a “green passport” for travelers is gradually becoming clearer: it should appear in June, be valid throughout the EU

The authorities are already preparing

At the beginning of the committee meeting, the conservative chair of the committee, Kazys Starkevičius, said that time was running fast at the moment and that we should accept the pandemic and seek new ways of life.

According to Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation Vincas Jurgutis, today European Union (EU) experts are coordinating what data such a passport could consist of, and Lithuania generally supports that idea of ​​certification.

“A week ago there was a meeting of tourism ministers, that was one of the main issues and again what form it will take, because a passport sounds very bureaucratic, but it has to be done.

As it is in the hands of the European Commission (EC), but we have to implement it in Lithuania, the Registry Center and eHealth are preparing for it, ”he said, adding that the certificate should cover everyone who is not only vaccinated, but also immune and valid throughout the EU.

According to the deputy minister, according to current schedules, the “green passport” should start operating in the EU from June.

“According to current information, it should work in June. Due to the type of contact we have with informants, Lithuania is preparing without problems,” he said.

In general, according to him, the goal of such a system is freedom of movement, which would be implemented by creating a unified system of travel and vaccination tests.

V. Jurgutis also assured that so far there is no talk of a separate national system or a “Lithuanian Green Passport”.

“It just came to our knowledge then. No such rules are being prepared so that a vaccinated person can go somewhere,” he said.

There are questions about data protection

The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Arnolas Pranckevičius, also spoke about the problems arising in other countries related to the “green passport”.

“Our current position is that we are open to a debate on the ‘green passport’ and we look forward to the EC proposal on March 17th.

We still don’t know what that proposal will be. Then we will have more content to see the suggestions from the health and tourism side.

We have also said internationally that the use of such a passport is natural for medical reasons, and that the possibility of traveling with such a passport requires a common EU agreement. A European solution is needed, “he said.

So far, as he said, the positions of other states regarding the immunity passport are still not entirely clear. They are said to be very distinctive.

“There is a group of countries that support the implementation of these certificates as soon as possible, there are more countries from the South such as Malta, Cyprus, Italy and others.

And there are many countries that remain skeptical, such as Germany, the Netherlands and others, ”said A. Pranckevičius.

According to him, at present, questions such as data protection, scientific evidence, elements of discrimination and what information exactly could be provided in such a passport still need to be answered in general.

Offers to cooperate with Estonia

Committee member Andrius Kupčinskas called on Lithuania not to wait for the EU decision and to take the initiative.

“I mean we have been talking about this for several months, maybe it is not so important if there will be an application or a document, but our leadership is important.

We can wait for the EU decisions, but not to be like buying vaccines. It is very important to consolidate forces, the Baltic bubble would fit here and would not wait for the entire EU.

I think that after consolidating the forces of Lithuania and Estonia and creating the Baltic e. passport, it would show leadership, the EU would recognize it and that practical experience would be demonstrated, ”said A. Kupčinskas.

A little later, he clarified that he wanted to say that Lithuania needed to take the initiative together with Estonia to consolidate its forces in the development of an electronic product for the immunity passport.

“As for the Baltic bubble, I understand that it is difficult to do because of the different situations of the countries,” added the member of Seimas.

In early March, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė told BNS that it was too early to talk about the implementation of the “green passport” in Lithuania, which is being discussed at the EU level, until a significant part of society has been vaccinated. . According to her, such a document could be used more to travel between states.

President Gitanas Nausėda supports the idea of ​​a “green passport” and says Lithuania will strive to include not only vaccinated people but also sick people. His adviser, Simon Krėpšta, argued that the measure could also be useful in deciding on larger waivers at the national level.