Brits given foreign holidays boost as EU unveils vaccine passport plan
BRITS’ hopes of a summer holiday in Europe were boosted today as the EU unveiled plans for vaccine passports to unlock international travel. Eurocrats published blueprints for the new jabs certificates and said tourists from the UK may be able to apply for them in the near future. And in a nod to our enormously […]
BRITS’ hopes of a summer holiday in Europe were boosted today as the EU unveiled plans for vaccine passports to unlock international travel.
Eurocrats published blueprints for the new jabs certificates and said tourists from the UK may be able to apply for them in the near future.
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And in a nod to our enormously successful vaccine rollout they added curbs could be lifted first on countries that have immunised large numbers.
Brussels hopes to have vaccine passports – called “digital green certificates” – for internal European travel up and running by the start of June.
The plan is then to roll them out to international visitors, allowing countries like Greece, Portugal, and Spain to reboot their vital tourism industries.
Brits who have had both jabs, or can provide proof of antibodies or a negative test, would be able to go on holiday under the scheme.
Initially anyone wishing to travel would have to apply to the country they wanted to go to for a vaccine passport.
But in the “medium term” the EU wants to be able to recognise jabs certificates issued by other countries, like Britain.
The passports will be free for European citizens, but it’s not yet clear whether Brits would have to pay a fee.
Top eurocrat Vera Jourova said: “We all want the tourist season to start. We can’t afford to lose another season.
“Tourism, and also culture and other sectors that are dependent on tourism, terribly suffer. We’re talking about tens of millions of jobs.”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis added the travel certificates “will help boost tourism and the economies that rely heavily on it”.
But EU officials cautioned that there is no timeline yet for when they might be extended to Brits.
One told The Sun: “The certificates are meant to support free movement within the EU.
“We’ll of course need to think about what to do about external borders, but there are no decisions yet.
“We’ve always focused on facilitating travel within the EU first, before thinking of relaxing external travel restrictions.”
The plan will still need to be signed off by Member States. A number, including France and Germany, are sceptical.
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today confirmed the UK is looking at introducing vaccine passports as part of reopening the economy.
He said: “I can’t say today this is absolutely going to happen. We’re having conversations about how best to take this forward and how best to reassure people.
“And also, not just reassuring people but keeping our people safe. We’re having conversations all the time about what the best next steps should be.”
Mr Kwarteng said the priority is continuing with the vaccine rollout so the country can unlock in line with the PM’s roadmap plan.
He said: “What we’re focused on at the moment is making sure that we hit those dates, and then we can reopen the economy.
“We are having debates, discussions about travel, that’s really important that people can travel safely.
“With international travel, you’re dealing with other countries and they will have their own input into what policies you have.
“But I think what we also have to do is be driven by the data, we’ve got to see how the Coronavirus develops.
“And once we reopen the economy, I’m sure we’ll be looking at other measures to make sure that people are safe and, above all, that the confidence of the public is maintained.”
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The business secretary said ministers are aware of the problems of “fairness” surrounding the use of vaccine passports.
He said: “None of these decisions are particularly easy decisions, and that’s why we are discussing what the best way to proceed is.”
Under the PM’s roadmap, international travel won’t be allowed until at least May 17.