EU citizens will be able to travel under much freer conditions starting July 1, when the EU Digital Green Certificate, also known as the Covid passport, will be operationalized.
The decision regarding the certificate at the EU level, adopted on May 27 among EU institutions, aims to prove the epidemiological status of traveling individuals and lift travel restrictions.
EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders stated that starting July 1, three types of certificates will be available. The certificates will prove whether a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, has tested negative for infection, or has recovered after having the disease.
National authorities will be able to verify the validity of a certificate by uploading public signature codes to a portal specially prepared by the EU.
However, only 17 EU states, plus Iceland, have successfully tested the EU portal so far. The 17 EU states are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden.
Others have scheduled additional tests in the coming days, including Latvia, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Portugal, and Romania.
A person with a single dose can still travel, but it will be up to the member states to decide whether to accept it or not.
Additionally, the European Commission has recommended that member states accept only vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson.
If a person has been administered another serum, it will be the decision of each individual state whether or not to accept that person’s entry. It is currently unclear how long the vaccination certificate will be valid.
The Commission is also promoting rapid antigen tests for the negative test certificate.
Reynders stated that €100 million has been allocated for the purchase of more tests. These are in addition to the approximately 20 million rapid antigen tests already purchased and a joint procurement of €2.6 billion for another 550 million.
Discussions regarding the mutual recognition of certificates are also ongoing with other countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the EU Digital Green Certificate become operational?
The certificate is scheduled to become operational across the European Union starting July 1.
What types of information does the COVID passport provide?
The certificate proves vaccination status, a negative test result, or recovery from the virus.
Which vaccines are recommended for acceptance by the EU?
The European Commission recommends vaccines authorized by the EMA: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.