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Greece seeking EU vaccination certificate to ease travel

Greece seeking EU vaccination certificate to ease travel

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to urge the introduction of a coronavirus vaccination certificate that would ease travel between member-states in the bloc, Politico reported on Tuesday.

The Greek government is reportedly proposing the introduction of a certificate by the European Union for “facilitating the freedom of movement of persons who have been vaccinated against Covid-19,” the letter, seen by Politico’s Playbook, said.

“It is urgent to adopt a common understanding on how a vaccination certificate should be structured so as to be accepted in all member-states,” Mitsotakis, who hopes to bring up the issue at an EU summit on January 21, said. He added that while such a process “may sound simple… the lengthy experience we have had on developing a common PLF [Passenger Locator Form] has shown us that there is an urgent need for a high-level EU-wide mobilization to move things forward.”

“Ensuring the quickest possible re-establishment of freedom of movement … is, of necessity, a fundamental priority for us all,” Mitsotakis said, adding that Greece, however, is “not going to make vaccination compulsory or a prerequisite for travel, persons who have been vaccinated should be free to travel.”

A certificate, he also said, would further “provide a positive incentive for ensuring that citizens are encouraged to undergo vaccination.”

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