30 MEPs from six political groups and some independent MEPs have called on the Commission to provide a follow-up to the Green Paper on Ageing. Underlining the need for respect of older persons’ fundamental rights and non-discrimination for persons of all ages, the MEPs ask the Commission whether the Green Paper will be followed up by a White Paper, an Age Equality Strategy, or any other measure to complete the EU framework on non-discrimination.
The digital COVID certificate allows to proof vaccination against, recovery from or negative testing for COVID-19 in all EU member States. With the easing of lock-down measures, many activities such as entering shops or eating out are now conditional on the presentation of such a certificate.
In some member States, residents who have been vaccinated can call a telephone hotline to receive a paper version of their certificate, in order to allow the digitally excluded to receive their papers and continue participating in society as everyone else. However, callers are confronted with long waiting times.
MEP Toine Manders – Photo credit: European Parliament
Waiting times are long and callers are often simply told to apply online. This is precisely what they wanted to avoid.
MEP Toine Manders
Mr Manders asks the Council what steps it undertakes to allow the digitally excluded, of which many older persons are part, to access their certificates.
The Council responded to the written question by pointing towards the Council recommendation on the Digital COVID certificates, indicating that member states shall provide the certificates in a digital or paper form, or both. In the response, the Council also underlines that the format has to follow the choice of the person to whom the certificate belongs.
The Council did not respond to criticisms on the difficulties in actually obtaining these certificates, however.
The European Parliament has recently adopted a major resolution, ‘Old continent growing older’, which addresses a number of important issues in relation to ageing. Adopted by a large majority, the resolution aims to contribute to shaping coherent ageing policies, following the release of the Commission’s Green Paper on Ageing and its consultation process.
"The Europe we want is for all ages" 