The “EU Digital COVID Certificate”, which aims to facilitate freedom of movement in the European Union, is expected to come into force on 1 July, according to the political commitment made today by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Parliament.

 

The interinstitutional agreement was reached in a trialogue, the name given to meetings of representatives of the three EU institutions involved in legislative procedures (the Council of the EU, the European Parliament and the European Commission), and is expected to be “confirmed” by the European Parliament in a plenary session and by the 27 Member States, which will have to develop technical infrastructure and assure the interoperability of national certificate recognition systems.

 

This “free pass”, which will be available in paper and digital format, is a fundamental element for facilitating freedom of movement in the EU, thus contributing to the economic recovery of Europe from the pandemic and making “tourism a source of economic recovery this summer”, according to Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa.

 

The commitment comes just a few days before the extraordinary European Council in Brussels on 24 and 25 May, where one of the main items on the agenda will be the implementation of the “EU Digital COVID Certificate”.