The European Commission has set a common framework for the 27 countries of the European Union, with which Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have joined forces, with a view to setting up a "European green certificate" intended to harmonize travel procedures between these countries.
The French health pass, in force on June 9 in France for events involving more than 1,000 people, is a near-true copy.
All the countries have agreed on a mutual basis, under the aegis of the European Commission.
This is based on common criteria to be included in a database to determine that a national is fit to travel.
The idea of a vaccine passport has been abandoned, so as not to discriminate against people who have not yet had access to this immunization.
Vaccinated people will be able to get a mention on their digital certificate from the first dose.
The host country will determine how many doses it requires but will have to "treat European travelers the same as its own citizens", according to a European source.
In France, the pass will be valid only after the injection of all the doses.
Read also Covid-19: the French favor the health pass for travel
Patients cured of Covid-19 will obtain a "green certificate" valid for six months after their first positive test (a "maximum" period which can be readjusted).
Finally, a negative test will also offer a 72-hour pass in Europe, while France is limited to 48 hours for large gatherings.
Concretely, the pass will be in the form of a QR code (the successor to the barcode, square), which will be readable by a dedicated application in any country participating in this system.
Different leaders have evoked a green light displayed, but the European authorities rather evoke "a tool to list in one place the various information".
Each country must offer a digital format for its QR code, but also a paper version.
"This tool proposes to make life easier for everyone and to promote free movement, but it will not be compulsory," even explains a European official.
It is the citizen who decides.
"" Failing to present a pass, a citizen will have to comply with other obligations decided by the member states, explains another source close to the European authorities.
For example a PCR test or an antigen test on arrival in the territory.
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From the end of May for Corsica, the Antilles and Guyana
The system must be operational for travel "around mid-June" for most participating countries and "no later than the end of June", tells us a European official.
18 states, including France, are carrying out a test campaign until May 21.
Discussions are underway to facilitate travel with other states, including the United States.
It remains to be seen whether the health pass could be scanned on either side of the Atlantic.
Already, in France, a QR code is used to certify its PCR test before going to Corsica. “A full deployment of the health pass is scheduled for the end of May,” indicates a source at the Ministry of Transport. Experiments started for Guyana and the West Indies last week and the rollout of the pass is also scheduled for the end of May. The objective, on the national territory as in the European space: "To accelerate, simplify and make more reliable the controls".
