EU "All Member States Can Issue Vaccine Passports Starting Next Month on the 1st"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The European Union (EU) has officially approved a plan to introduce COVID-19 vaccine passports to all member states starting July 1.

On the 14th (local time), Germany's DPA news agency reported that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, and Ant?nio Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal, the rotating EU presidency country, have signed the final regulations regarding the vaccine passport. The vaccine passport is a digital certificate proving that the holder has been vaccinated against COVID-19.

In a joint statement, these officials said, "The Europe we know and hope to return to is a 'borderless' Europe," and added, "With the EU vaccine passport, residents of member states will be able to regain the right to move freely."

DPA news agency reported that the signatures of the EU leaders signify the EU's final approval of the issuance of the vaccine passport.

Previously, some European countries, including Germany, had issued vaccine passports even before the EU's formal approval. Many member states have expressed their intention to exempt vaccine passport holders from self-quarantine and mandatory testing.