Parliament took its negotiating position on Thursday on the proposal for a certificate reaffirming the right to free movement during the pandemic MEPs agreed that the new European COVID-19 certificate, instead of the digital green certificate proposed by the Commission , Should be in effect for 12 months and no longer.
The document, which can be in either paper or digital format, shows that someone has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, has a recent negative test result, or has recently recovered from an infection with the virus. However, the COVID-19 certificates are not intended as a travel document and should not become a condition for exercising the right to free movement, according to the MEPs.
The bill on EU nationals was passed by 540 votes, 119 against and 31 abstentions. The proposal on third-country nationals was passed with 540 in favor, 80 against and 70 abstentions. The vote took place on Wednesday and the results were announced on Thursday. The goal is to reach an agreement before the summer holiday season.
No additional travel restrictions and free corona tests
Holders of a European COVID-19 certificate should not, according to Parliament, be subject to additional travel restrictions such as quarantine, self-isolation or testing. MEPs also stress, in order to avoid discrimination against unvaccinated people and for economic reasons, that EU countries must provide universal, accessible, timely and free testing.
Compatible with national initiatives
Parliament wants to ensure that the EU certificate can function alongside initiatives developed by Member States; they would then have to respect the same legal framework. Member States must accept vaccination certificates issued in another Member State, as long as it involves vaccination with a vaccine approved for use in the EU by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) (currently Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen), the MPs. It is up to the Member States to decide whether they also accept vaccination certificates issued in other Member States for vaccines designated for emergency use by the World Health Organization.
Safeguards for data protection
The certificates will be checked to prevent fraud and counterfeiting. This also applies to the authenticity of the electronic seals in the document. Personal data mentioned in the certificate may not be stored in the countries of destination and there will be no central database at European level. The list of authorities that will process and receive the data will be public, so that citizens can exercise their rights in the General Data Protection Regulation.
Affordable vaccines that are distributed worldwide
Finally, MEPs stress that corona vaccines must be produced on a scale, affordably priced and distributed worldwide. They also express concern about the major problems caused by companies failing to meet production and delivery schedules. This is reported by the European Parliament on them website.
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