The European Union’s ambitious plan to create a unified travel system for borderless journeys has been delayed yet again.
The Digital Green Certificate, announced in April last year, was supposed to be in operation this summer across the EU’s 27 nations. It’s a digital record of a person’s vaccination status and test results.
However, due to the time it’s taking to implement its software, the system won’t be up and running until 2025.
This delay means that while travellers can currently cross EU borders for essential reasons, many other visitors may have to wait another four years before they can explore the continent.
The goal of the Digital Green Certificate is to make travel within Europe easier and to help people get back to work. It will enable individuals to not only prove their identity but also their vaccine status and other results from recent Covid tests.
The Commission is currently in talks with tech companies to develop the software. It should be ready by the end of 2021, but the full system won’t be up and running until the middle of 2025.
The delay has been met with frustration, with some countries already offering digital certificates. For example, Turkey has a “Coronavirus Exit Control Document” which allows travellers access to the country with proof of a Covid-19 test or vaccination.
Ultimately, the delay of the Digital Green Certificate is disappointing for many Europeans hoping to travel this summer. However, the Commission is confident the system will have a positive impact on European mobility, trade and economic recovery in the long run.
