The European Commission today proposed that Covid-19 vaccination certificates be valid for nine months after full vaccination for EU travel.
This was stated by the Commissioner for Justice Didier Raiders, presenting the update of the rules for the coordination of safe and free movement in the EU, which were introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In particular, the Commission proposes a greater focus on an “people-based” approach to travel measures and a standard acceptance period for vaccination certificates of 9 months from the original vaccination series. The 9-month period takes into account the guidelines of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) regarding the administration of booster doses of 6 months. The Commission envisages an additional period of 3 months to ensure that national vaccination campaigns can be adapted and citizens can access supportive doses. This means that, as part of the trip, Member States should not refuse a vaccination certificate issued less than 9 months after the last dose of the initial vaccination has been given. The Commission also recommends that Member States immediately take all necessary measures to ensure access to vaccination for those population groups whose vaccination certificates have been issued approaching the 9-month limit.
According to the Commission, “a person holding a valid EU COVID certificate should not, in principle, be subject to additional restrictions, such as a test or quarantine, regardless of where he or she leaves the EU”, but those without an EU COVID Certificate EU may be required to take a test before or after arrival.
Justice Commissioner D. Raders said that in the light of the latest developments and scientific evidence, the Commission is proposing a new recommendation to be adopted by the Council. “Based on our common tool, the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which has become a real standard, we are moving towards an people-based approach. “Our main goal is to avoid divergent measures across the EU. This also applies to the issue of boosting doses, which will be necessary to fight the virus.”
Mr Raders also noted that European citizens who have not been vaccinated and do not have a disease certificate should not be deprived of their fundamental right to free movement within the EU, so they will continue to be tested for travel. He noted, however, that in each Member State the certificate is used differently and there unvaccinated travelers may not be able to travel everywhere.
The Commission has also proposed adapting the EU traffic light map, which combines new cases with vaccination in one area. The map will be mainly for information purposes, but will also be used to coordinate measures for areas with very low (“green”) or very high (“dark red”) levels of virus circulation. Specific rules will apply to these areas, by way of derogation from the “person-based approach”. There should be no restrictions for travelers from “green” areas. Travel to and from the “dark red” areas should be discouraged, given the large number of new infections there, and people who have not been vaccinated or recovered from the virus should be tested before leaving and quarantined afterwards. The return.
However, there will be exceptions to certain travel measures: they should apply to cross-border travelers, children under the age of 12 and regular travelers. The list of necessary travelers should be reduced as many travelers included in the current list have had the opportunity to be vaccinated in the meantime.
Finally, the emergency process aimed at delaying the spread of possible new variants of COVID-19 or dealing with particularly serious situations should be simplified and made more efficient. It will include notification from a Member State to the Commission and the Council and the Council’s Integrated Political Crisis Management (IPCR).
In order to give sufficient time for the implementation of the coordinated approach, the Commission proposes that these updates take effect from 10 January 2022.
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