Teenagers and college-goers are getting a chance to explore Europe for free. The European Commission’s DiscoverEU initiative is giving a chance to 35,000 young people born between 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2004 who can apply to receive one of the travel passes. The first application round which is now open, closes on 21 April. Successful applicants can travel across Europe (predominantly using trains) for up to 30 days between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023. EU plans to launch a second application round in October.
Travel Pass Allows Restriction-Free Travel Within Europe
The European Union announced that it would issue a digital travel pass as proof of the coronavirus vaccination status. The travel pass called ‘Green Certificates’ allows restriction-free travel within the EU ahead of what seems like a busy summer tourist season. EU will soon issue a unified European digital COVID certificate that will be applicable all across Europe and will massively simplify cross-border traveling as well as prevent contradictory national procedures. New IATA Digital Travel Pass To Help International Flyers In COVID Times; Here’s Everything To Know.
🚨 Negotiation breakthrough
“This the happy end to a very difficult negotiation,” says @jeroen_lenaers.
In a couple of weeks, we will have a unified European digital COVID certificate which will be recognised all over the EU and will massively simplify cross-border travelling.
— EPP Group (@EPPGroup) May 20, 2021
The Travel Pass Has A QR Code That You Can Use Across EU
So basically, the travel is a QR Code that will be downloaded on your smartphone or printed on paper. With the digital health travel pass, nations will be able to drop additional testing and quarantine rules and other such unnecessary measures. This pass will help restart free movement within Europe as safely as possible. According to reports, France, Malta, and the Netherlands were the first nations to try this digital travel health pass scheme.
Also read: Want To Travel To New York? Keep Your Digital COVID Vaccine Passport Ready
✈️ How can the EU ensure the harmonisation of #travel rules?
📱 Will the #DigitalGreenCertificate work to ease travel?
🌍 When will Europe be open to the rest of the world?Join our frank debate on #SavingSummer w/ @POLITICOEurope next Wednesday ➡️ https://t.co/lsO1RVlrxq pic.twitter.com/HmUioHxCGj
— European Travel Commission (@ETC_Corporate) May 18, 2021
France Already Has A Digital Health Travel Pass
With the digital health pass, vaccinated travellers can get a database of past tests and vaccinations. The previous antibody test results will also be incorporated. France Becomes First European Country To Launch Digital Health Pass. France launched a digital health pass where the TousAntiCovid app generates a secure QR code that contains all information about the traveller. This includes the traveller’s name, type of test, vaccine, information about the doctor or laboratory, which can be accessed on the national database.
We will keep you updated on more information about the digital health pass. Watch out this space.