Commission Urges EU Countries to Rollout Digital COVID Travel Passes Before July

Photo source: European Commission

The European Commission on Monday called for further efforts to ensure a smooth rollout of the EU Digital COVID Certificate to facilitate travel during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The EU Digital Covid Certificate aims to make crossing European internal borders easier through a commonly agreed document with a standard format, stating that a person has been vaccinated, has tested negative or has recovered from COVID-19. These three types of certification would be secure and accepted throughout the EU.

It is reminded that the EU’s joint Digital COVID Certificate is expected to be introduced by early July.

However, the Commission is urging Member States to make use, to the maximum extent possible, of existing possibilities under national law to start issuing EU Digital COVID Certificates already before the entry into application of the underlying regulation on July 1.

“Where national law provides for the verification of COVID-19 certificates, holders of an EU Digital COVID Certificate could already make use of it when travelling,” the Commission said.

The Commission added that it will support the process by launching the central part of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, the EU gateway storing the public keys needed for the verification of an EU Digital COVID Certificate, on June 1.

“Given that no personal data is exchanged via the EU gateway, Member States could already make use of its functionality,” the Commission said.

A number of European countries, including Greece, are expected to begin issuing their own Digital COVID Certificates as of June 1.

Moreover, on Monday, the Commission proposed for Member States to gradually ease travel measures, including most importantly for the holders of the EU Digital COVID Certificate.