The presidents of the three EU institutions – the European
Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission – officially signed the legislation on
EU Digital Covid Certificates into law on Monday.
The certificate is intended to facilitate travel and exempts holders from restrictions such as quarantine. Available in either digital or
paper form, the certificate provides proof of Covid-19 vaccination, test results
and recovery from an infection with the virus.
The regulations will apply for 12 months and come into force
on 1 July 2021. Thirteen countries have already started issuing the
certificates: Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Spain have
joined the seven countries who had issued certificates by the beginning of
June.
Presidents David Sassoli and Ursula von der Leyen and Prime
Minister António Costa said in a joint statement: “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. Our
Union showed again that we work best when we work together. 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.
“We can be proud of this great achievement. 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.”