Member states are divided on an internal EU vaccine passport, proposed by the European Commission, with some countries cautioning the measure would be discriminatory.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said yesterday (1 March) that the proposal would also accommodate those who haven’t yet been vaccinated, as well as showing a negative test result or a recovery from the virus.

“The digital ‘green pass’ should facilitate Europeans’ lives,” Von der Leyen said. “The aim is to gradually enable them to move safely in the EU or abroad – for work or tourism.”

Spain may roll out its own clearance system, in the absence of an EU agreement, to allow vaccinated people from outside the bloc to enter the country.

Despite support for standardised digital medical certificates to show proof of vaccination, some member states have cast doubt on the idea.

Belgium’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sophie Wilmès criticised Dr von der Leyen’s description of the system as a “pass”, saying that this strayed beyond the idea of a mere certificate.

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She said that Belgium would not link vaccination to freedom of movement around Europe.

“Respect for the principle of non-discrimination is more fundamental than ever, since vaccination is not compulsory and access to the vaccine is not yet generalised,” she said.

Just 8% of adults in the EU have received a vaccine dose, according to the European Commission, which has urged member states to speed up their inoculations.