Digital Green Certificate controversy

“I received over 5,000 emails in the past 48 hours about the proposal in the European Parliament to fast-track a Digital Green Certificate,” he said.

“I voted in favour of using urgent procedure on this matter, given the importance of adopting this Digital Green Certificate as quickly as possible.

“Any unnecessary delays at committee level would hurt our hospitality, tourism and aviation sectors, who have already suffered enormously over the last year.

“The urgent procedure provides sufficient opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny and oversight.

“I look forward to performing my duties thoroughly in this regard, to ensure that European citizens’ data is protected.

“I support this proposal as it is a temporary measure which is designed to provide some hope for the struggling hospitality and tourism sector and does not impose any obligation on anyone to be vaccinated.

“It is envisaged that this measure will cease once we are confident that we will not overwhelmed by another surge in cases.

“International travel is a vector for the spread of variants.

“The current measures which are in place, also temporary, require proof of PCR and a sworn statement and a passenger locator form.

“The purpose of the Digital Green Certificate is to facilitate the exercise of free movement, not to curtail it.”

Mr Andrews also explained that persons who are not vaccinated:

• for medical reasons
• because they are not part of the target group for which the vaccine is currently recommended, such as children, or
• because they have not yet had the opportunity or do not wish to be vaccinated

will be able to continue to exercise their fundamental right of free movement, where necessary subject to limitations such as mandatory testing and quarantine/self-isolation.

“This regulation should not be interpreted as establishing an obligation to be vaccinated,” he said.

“Persons who are not vaccinated or who have not yet had the opportunity to be vaccinated will benefit from such an interoperable framework as well, facilitating their free movement.

“In the European Parliament, I sit on the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in European Democracies, including Disinformation.

“As part of our work, experts have outlined the ‘infodemic’ of disinformation that has accompanied and exacerbated the Covid-19 pandemic, around the safety of vaccines, for example.

“Many of the emails that I received over the past few days were sent by constituents raising valid and genuine concerns about this proposed digital green certificate.

“However, many also appear to have been part of a coordinated disinformation campaign.

“The information and arguments they present are at best misleading and inaccurate.

“At worst, they are blatantly false.

“I believe that we are seeing a new front develop in this infodemic, and it is incumbent on us to strongly refute the allegations being made.

“The Pandemic has completely eroded some the freedoms that we usually enjoy and as long as the measures to combat the illness are temporary and proportionate then I will support them.”