The Diplomat
The Presidents of the European Parliament, David Sassoli; of the Council of the EU, Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa; and of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, yesterday attended the official signing ceremony of the Digital COVID Certificate Regulation, marking the end of the legislative process.
“The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a symbol of what Europe stands for. Of a Europe that does not falter when put to the test. A Europe that unites and grows when faced with challenges”, the presidents of the three EU institutions jointly declared. “Our Union showed again that we work best when we work together”, they continued.
“The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation was agreed between our institutions in the record time of 62 days. While we worked through the legislative process, we also built the technical backbone of the system, the EU gateway, which is live since 1 June”, the three presidents reminded.
“The Europe that we all know and that we all want back is a Europe without barriers. The EU Certificate will again enable citizens to enjoy this most tangible and cherished of EU rights – the right to free movement. Signed into law today, it will enable us to travel more safely this summer. Today we reaffirm together that an open Europe prevails”, concluded the joint statement.
The purpose of the EU Digital COVID Certificate is to facilitate free and safe movement within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. All Europeans have the right to free movement, also without the Certificate, but this document will facilitate travel by exempting its holders from restrictions such as quarantine.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate will be accessible to all and will cover vaccination, diagnostic tests and COVID-19 retrieval. Moreover, as the Commission recalled yesterday, it will be free of charge and available in all EU languages, will exist in digital and printed format, will be secure and will include a QR code with digital signature. Following its official signing, which took place yesterday, the Regulation will apply for twelve months from July 1, 2021, with a six-week transition period for the issuance of certificates in those Member States that need more time. Thirteen Member States have already started issuing these certificates, including Spain.
Once implemented, Member States will refrain from imposing additional travel restrictions on persons holding an EU Digital COVID Certificate, unless such restrictions are necessary and proportionate to safeguard public health. In addition, the Commission has committed to mobilize €100 million under the Emergency Assistance Instrument to help Member States provide affordable diagnostic tests.
The idea for the creation of the certificate came from Greece, but it was immediately supported by Spain and other tourism-dependent countries, which had to overcome the initial reluctance of other Member States, such as France, which considered it potentially discriminatory. On March 17, 2021, the European Commission presented a proposal to create an EU COVID Certificate to facilitate the free and safe movement of citizens within the EU during the pandemic. On May 20, the co-legislators reached a provisional agreement and on June 1, the technical structure of the systems, the EU Gateway, which allows verification of the security measures contained in the QR codes, became operational.
