EU mulls vaccination certificates to resurrect tourism after Covid-19

European Union leaders will meet today to work on EU-wide certificates of vaccination for the union's citizens who have received the anti-COVID vaccine. Southern EU countries, including Greece and Spain, that are highly dependent on tourism, are pushing for a quick adoption of the certificate so that people can travel again.

 

Officials said that the EU was working with the International Air Transport Association, which is keen to revive air travel, and with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Health Organization. They added that the



work is needed on the details, including whether it should be in digital form, be accepted globally and at what stage of the two-step inoculation process it should be issued.

 

However, France and Germany have shown reluctance to agree to the idea of a certificate, claiming that it would create an unspoken vaccination obligation. Additionally, EU officials said that travel with certificates will also raise legal questions as those last in line for vaccinations could argue their freedom of movement was unjustly restricted by the months-long queues.