The EPP Group regrets that the majority of the Greens and Communists and many Socialists and Liberals voted against the swift implementation of the vaccination certificate.

The uncoordinated introduction of internal border controls during the pandemic caused societal and economic disorder. The plans for introducing the digital green vaccination certificate will allow for the quicker and safer movement of citizens and will reboot tourism. It is a major step in the right direction.

For Jeroen Lenaers MEP, the EPP Group Spokesman in Parliament's Civil Liberties and Home Affairs Committee, this is a very negative stance on the efforts to restart Europe’s economy.

“The decision of the Green Group and the Left Group and many Socialists and Liberals to object to the speedy introduction of the digital vaccination certificate is incomprehensible. They can't see the forest for the trees. The Digital Green Certificate will not be a pre-condition to exercising free movement rights and it will not discriminate in any way. It will include a very limited set of information. The setting-up of the digital vaccination certificate aims to harmonise diverging document formats, not only regarding a person’s vaccination status but also on tests and possible recovery from COVID-19. It is essential to restart the economy, save Europe’s summer and create jobs, after months of economic slowdown due to the pandemic”, said Lenaers.