Brussels/Frankfurt, 18 May 2021 – Commenting on the trilogue negotiations between the EU Commission, the European Parliament and the Council on the so-called Digital Green Certificate, Thilo Brodtmann, Executive Director of VDMA, says:

"The EU should quickly agree on a single European vaccination passport and introduce the Digital Green Certificate across Europe. This would enormously facilitate the posting of workers within the EU, revitalise the European economy and strengthen the Single Market.

In view of the declining Covid infections and the increasing vaccinations, it should now be avoided at all costs that each member state operates with its own verification documents. A Digital Green Certificate can give a boost to free movement in the Single Market and is another important step towards normality. It would therefore be desirable if the trilogue negotiations were now successfully concluded. EU policy should concentrate on the essentials and not quibble over minor details, such as the official name of the certificate, and thus lose time.

Instead, pragmatism is needed to quickly reach an agreement and introduce the vaccination certificate - for EU citizens and the companies that urgently need it."