Members of the European Parliament have voted to extend the COVID-19 vaccine passport system until June 2023, despite the fact that the controversial measures that eroded civil liberties during the pandemic are winding down in other areas.
The plan was approved by 432 votes, with 130 voting against it and 23 abstentions. It is now awaiting approval by the European Council.
Before the vote, the president of the parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee, Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar noted that “the pandemic is not over,” further arguing that a “time-limited extension is reasonable.”
In an effort to re-open borders ahead of the summer, an important period for many EU members because of tourism, the EU launched the COVID-19 pass. It shows whether a person has been vaccinated, tested negative, or recently recovered from the virus.
However, only 9 countries in the region still require the pass to enter their borders.
