EU Approves Use of Covid-19 Certificates for Travel Until June 2023

Photo source: european Parliament / © AdobeStock_Alex-Bascuas

The European Council approved rules this week that allow the extension to June 2023 of the EU Digital Covid Certificate, which serves as proof that a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, received a negative test result or recovered from the coronavirus in the past six months.

The Council’s decision follows the approval of the certificate’s one-year extension by the European Parliament on June 23.

The certificate, which was adopted on 14 June 2021 and has been in force since 1 July 2021, was aimed at facilitating travel in the EU during the pandemic. Authorities stress that the digital Covid pass has played an important role in facilitating the free movement of people during Covid.

Under the extended regulation, EU travelers and those from third countries connected to the system can continue to use their certificates for travel to any EU member country where these certificates are required.

If the health situation allows, the regulation can also be repealed earlier, the European Council said in its announcement.

The current extension also includes an obligation for the Commission to

– submit a detailed report by 31 December 2022 accompanied by legislative proposals to allow for a new assessment of the need to repeal or maintain the certificate depending on the epidemiological developments;

– the clarification that vaccination certificates should reflect all doses administered regardless of the member state where people received their vaccination;

– the possibility to issue a certificate of recovery following an antigen test; the expansion of the range of authorized antigen tests used to qualify for a Covid-19 certificate;

– and the possibility to allow vaccination certificates to be issued to persons participating in clinical trials.

Press here for information provided by the Council on the EU Digital COVID Certificate.