EU Digital/paper! Certs, the Megathread - threadbans in OP

I don't. I believe it was only a matter of time before the Government dropped them. I went on holiday 3 weeks ago and there was no set up at the airport to check Covid passes or Locator forms. They were looking for an out. The Ukranian refugee reason gives them that and some nice PR in the process.

You have to laugh through. Let's drop the restrictions so unvaccinated Ukranians can enter the country. It's so galling it's actually funny. RTE, brilliant as always for the Government, silent on the obvious hypocrisy.

Very interested to see what course the EU Commission/Parliament charts on this. Macron's attitude of let's piss of the unvaccinated is shared in those circles I suspect. Will they back off and use the same excuse? Not so sure. I watched the parliament plenary session where the extension was discussed... there was a lot of talk of 'confusing rules', 'non-binding arrangements' and the need 'for a one size fits all' approach. That was all code for tightening the grip to my ear.

So no some Eu countries are keeping this nonsense for now??

Just a big fat bank account for that list

Looks like Spain still has a way to go. On the other hand, we've seen that when changes happen they happen quite quickly.

Meanwhile, the EU has collected over 75,000 submissions, overwhelmingly against extension of Digital Cert Regulation. I think folk are rightly seeing that any special powers legislation brought in for the pandemic needs to allowed to lapse or be repealed.

That public consultation is still open until early April, and they seem to be attracting about 1,000 new submissions per day. It will be very interesting to see what happens if they've collected 100,000 negatives by the time it closes, with Member States taking their national restrictions down. Will they try to persist, arguing that they've negotiated mutual recognition agreements with third countries on the assumption that extension was a done deal? Can they make their actual disinterest in public views that explicit?

I guess we'll see in April.

That's Council - meaning Member States have agreed this. Like, our Gubbermint has agreed to it. With the only sliver of hope being "And the principle of gradually lifting travel restrictions if the epidemiological situation so permits still applies." But also with the sliver of fear "an obligation for the Commission to submit a detailed report by 1 February 2023 has been added. This report could be accompanied by legislative proposals to allow for a reassessment of the need to repeal or extend the certificate", meaning they are opening the possibility of extending it beyond 2023.

That's your Gubbermint, working for you.

European Parliament still has to consider it. The story there won't be different, but they have to ignore the now 80,000 citizens opposing the move.

Which, at least, will make it explicit that your views don't count.

DCC for entering the Netherlands ends TODAY😊

If you pay attention you will see a general approach taken by the elites to circumvent (national) parliaments by putting in legislation to push their agenda past the public representatives who might be voted out. This goes for most institutions in health and education, the WHO, the WEF and now the broad woke equity /diversity agenda. I think it started to become standard practice in the Blair years. Current politicians are a revolving door between politics and commerce with the supra national institutions like the EU and the WEF (Davos) setting the agenda and an extended network of interests supported by the media.That is how young boys like Trudeau have come to the fore doing the rounds. All on board with the woke crowd and other controlling mechanisms so clearly displayed during the pandemic. Control and comply, thats how liberalism has turned out and the reason behind the rise of Trump and Brexit as opposing forces. I was not in favour of both but i do understand the sentiment behind it. Now we can add 'antivaxxers' to the list of 'crazies'..

The irony is that some of the things Trump said about Nato and cosying up to Russia by Germany now do not seen to be so far fetched giving the current crisis.

Now nearly 180,000 responses, with two days still to go.

Someone in the Commission will be busy if they fulfil their commitment that "All feedback received will be summarised by the European Commission and presented to the European Parliament and Council with the aim of feeding into the legislative debate."

Is there value though? The average sap in the EU isn't really aware of the workings of the institutions or the direction the EU is headed. The media aren't going to help in spreading the word either.

The democratic deficit is unassailable at this stage. The Commission circumvent national parliaments/voters as a matter of course and are set on establishing themselves as 'a power' internationally. We are just along for the ride.

The Brits left for all the wrong reasons but not allowing these people free reign seems a prudent move to me.

I only got vaccinated to travel hassle free this summer. Got my first dose last weekend. Due my second in 2 weeks. How long after the second dose do people usually wait to get the EU Vaccine pass?

I am traveling around Europe. Will be in many countries. I am pretty sure the 2 doses are grand up until around 4 months after the second dose in most/all countries. Booster is only needed when the 2 dose vaccine expires (which varies from country to country).

6 to 9 months for 2nd vaccine to expire.1 year claimed for booster.