Contents
Covid19
EU certificate
There are currently four Covid-19 vaccines that have received conditional marketing authorisation in the EU (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen);
- In a January 2021 resolution, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe emphasised that states must 'ensure that no one is discriminated against for not having been vaccinated, due to possible health risks or not wanting to be vaccinated'.
- For example, it is argued that, since 'vaccination is currently not readily accessible for all, this could lead to a two-tier society, with the vaccinated enjoying unrestricted free movement while others face restrictions that render their right to free movement difficult or impossible to exercise in practice'.
- For example, the high cost of tests could place burdens on people, leading to what some commentators have called a 'free movement tax'. In particular when proof of tests are required for other purposes, such as accessing public services, the associated costs of testing could constitute a violation of human rights.
- Although this may be a national competence, cases where Member States do not reimburse such tests or pay for them directly might constitute a violation of human rights; in particular where the tests are required for other purposes, since they then become essential services in the meaning of Article 20 of the European Pillar on Social Rights.
- The proposed certificate is considered a temporary measure. According to the Commission's proposal, the certificate will be suspended once the WHO declares the end of the Covid-19 international health emergency.
