“White smoke”, Didier Reynders, EU Commissioner for Justice, wrote on Twitter last night.
” We have an agreement on the Commission’s proposal for the EU Digital COVID Certificate. We delivered this new tool in record time to ensure free movement for all citizens. ”
Following swift negotiations last night, the European Parliament and EU countries have agreed on COVID-19 passports. This will make it easier to travel between Member States.
The certificate still requires final approval, but it is expected to be operational by July 1st.
Free QR code as pass
The COVID-19 passport is not a burgundy booklet, but a free QR code on your smartphone or a piece of paper – officially named ‘EU Digital COVID Certificate’.
All EU citizens can qualify to receive it as long as they have one of the three mandatory requirements.
You must either be vaccinated, have previously been infected or have a negative coronary test.
If you have only had one vaccine dose, you will also be able to apply for the passport. However, only vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are accepted.
No nightmare like last year
The general rule is that the certificate must ensure that doors are opened to travel to other Member States.
“We are not repeating the summer of 2020,” said Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, the Spanish lawmaker who led Parliament’s team.
Countries are encouraged to have as few restrictions for incoming tourists as possible, but it is still up to the countries themselves if they require tourists to be quarantined or given a new test after arrival.
Source: The Nordic Page