Representatives of EU member states have reached agreement on the technical guidelines for the operation of the proposed Digital Green Certificate.

The certificate is aimed at enabling the reopening of travel throughout the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will include proof that a traveller has been vaccinated against COVID-19, tested negative for the virus, or recovered.

The European Commission, which proposed the measure, hopes to have it in place in June, but must still negotiate the details with the European Parliament, after MEPs finalise their position next week.

Crucial step

The commission said the latest development was a “crucial step” for the establishment of the necessary infrastructure at EU level. It is encouraging member states to implement the agreed technical solutions at national level, in parallel with the continuing work on legislation.

The technical specification covers the QR code, which will ensure that all certificates, whether digital or on paper, can be read and verified across the EU.

The guidelines also cover the ‘EU gateway’, which will allow the sharing of electronic signature keys so that the authenticity of the certificates can be verified across the EU.

The commission says no personal data from certificate holders will pass through the gateway.