"EN P-003510/2021 Answer given by Reynders on behalf of the European Commission (31/8/2021)

It is important to distinguish between the security of the EU Digital COVID Certificate itself, and the possible falsification of some other vaccination certificates.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate is secure. The trust framework that lays out the infrastructure for the reliable and secure issuance and verification of EU Digital COVID Certificates is based on a public key infrastructure with a trust chain from Member States’ health authorities or trusted authorities to the individual entities issuing the COVID-19 certificates. The trust framework therefore allows for the detection of fraud, in particular forgery. The EU Digital COVID Certificates contain an interoperable, digitally readable barcode, with security features that cannot be falsified. The digital signing of the barcode using cryptographic keys helps ensure that the certificates’ authenticity, integrity and validity are verifiable. Member States should take appropriate measures to ensure that the points where the certificates are generated are well protected.

Member States should also ensure that in cases when a secure EU Digital COVID Certificate is issued on the basis of another vaccination proof, the proof is properly checked. The falsification of documents is illegal and punishable under national law.

The Commission will continue following up closely on this issue and take appropriate steps where necessary. It is also important to note that Europol has been following the issue of pandemic-related fraud since the beginning and is monitoring developments closely".

AVIONEWS publishes the integral version of the parliamentary question:

"Parliamentary questions 

8 July 2021

Priority question for written answer P-003510/2021 to the Commission Rule 138

Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D), Patrizia Toia (S&D), Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI), Mario Furore (NI), Laura Ferrara (NI)

Answer in writing

Subject: attempts to forge the Digital Green Pass

The Digital Green Pass certificate should allow the European population to travel within the EU without restrictions. In addition, even within the individual Member States, this certification may make it possible to restart sectors linked to public events, marriages and festivals or to allow access to health care homes.

Unfortunately, there are reports in the press and on the internet according to which there are increasingly frequent attempts to produce counterfeit certificates which, if they become widespread, would frustrate attempts to minimise infections with COVID-19 and its variants.

In light of the above, we should like to ask the Commission the following questions:

1 Will it adopt a position on the spread of this phenomenon in order to protect the social and economic sacrifices which European citizens have had to make?

2 Will it issue guidelines to the Member States to combat this phenomenon?

3 Does it intend to take direct initiatives, including through its agencies, to curb this phenomenon?

Last updated: 14 July 2021".