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- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to overcome travel restrictions in the European Union with a planned digital vaccination certificate.
- The test must be called “Digital Green Certificate” and be valid both in digital format and on paper.
- The future EU vaccination certificate should be valid for all EU and Schengen countries and therefore also for Switzerland.
“With this digital certificate we want to help our member states to restore freedom of movement in a responsible and safe way,” said Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels.
The intended certificates are intended to serve as proof of whether an EU citizen has been vaccinated or examined or has recovered from the Covid-19 disease. The 27 EU countries should mutually recognize these certificates, said the Commission President.
The EU Commission is also proposing joint measures for a safe and permanent opening after crown closures in the EU. A common framework of measures is envisaged, ranging from tests and treatments to the exchange of vaccines.
QR code as central point
The EU Commission calls the planned vaccination certificate “Digital Green Certificate”. It should be available in both digital and paper formats. All people must receive the certificate for free.
The central point is a QR code that is supposed to guarantee the security and authenticity of the certificate. Vaccines can be recorded, but also results of PCR tests or rapid antigen tests, as well as Covid-19 disease survival.
The EU Commission wants to develop a technical platform so that certificates can be verified and recognized in all member states. However, no personal data should be stored or exchanged on this platform.
In principle, it should be left to the states to decide what benefits are granted when traveling with the certificate, for example. However, if you continue to require, for example, quarantine or testing of certificate holders, you must inform the EU Commission and all other EU countries and explain the reasons.
Certificate also for Switzerland member of Schengen
The future EU vaccination certificate should be valid for all EU and Schengen countries and therefore also for Switzerland. This is what EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said when presenting the proposal.
This means that Switzerland can work on the details of this vaccination certificate. The proposal presented by the EU Commission will soon be sent to the EU and Schengen states.
Since the Schengen Association Agreement between Switzerland and the EU is not dynamic, Switzerland does not have to automatically adopt innovations in the Schengen area; therefore, the possibility of a referendum remains.
For example, if Switzerland does not accept the vaccination certificate, this could lead to the termination of the Schengen Agreement.
BAG leaves Switzerland open to participation
The Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) declined to comment specifically on the EU vaccination pass at the request of the Keystone-SDA agency. Watch the discussions in the EU and the World Health Organization (WHO) about a vaccination certificate and examine “the issues related to care.”
At the moment, “intensive clarifications,” the BAG continued, “which technical solution approaches promise success for a recognized, counterfeit-proof vaccination trial.” In addition, it will be verified what legal bases are necessary.
