European Commission proposes digital certificate for COVID vaccination and testing

The European Commission has proposed to create a Digital Green Certificate, to help facilitate free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The certificate will serve as proof that a person has either been vaccinated against COVID-19, has tested negative, or has recovered from COVID-19, so as to prevent discrimination against unvaccinated individuals.

It will be available free of charge and in digital or paper formate, with a QR code to ensure security and aunthenticity.

Member States will have to decide which public health restrictions can be waived for travellers, but will have to apply waivers in the same way to travellers holding a Digital Green Certificate.

The certificate will be valid across all EU member States, and will be open for Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. 

It will be issued to EU citizens and their family members, regardless of nationality. Non-EU nationals residing in the EU, and visitors who have the right to travel to other Member States, will also be eligible for the Digital Green Certificate.

The measure will be suspended once the World Health Organisation (WHO) declares the end of the COVID-19 international health emergency.