BRUSSELS — European Union lawmakers on Wednesday support a new travel certificate that will permit individuals to move between European nations without having to quarantine or undergo extra coronavirus tests, paving the way for the pass to begin in time for summer.
The widely awaited certificates are aimed at saving Europe’s tourism industry and tourist sites from one other disastrous vacation season. Key travel destinations like Greece have led the drive to have the certificate, which will have each paper and digital forms, rapidly introduced.
Several EU nations have already begun using the system, including Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, and Poland.
Right now, touring within the EU’s 27 nations is a trial for travelers and airlines alike. Nations have various COVID-19 traffic-light systems, where those in green are considered safe and those in red to be avoided. But every nation is applying different rules and standards, making travel confusing for all.
The new regulations governing the vaccine certificates were adopted in two votes at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Rules for EU residents were passed 546 to 93, with 51 abstentions. Those for individuals from outside the bloc passed 553 to 91, with 46 abstentions.
The vote must still be rubber-stamped by EU nations, however, that’s likely a formality.
It means that beginning July 1 for 12 months, all EU nations must recognize the vaccine certificate. They will be issued free and certify that an individual has either been fully vaccinated against the virus, has recently tested negative, or has recovered from the disease.
The rules will not be heavily enforced for six weeks to allow nations to prepare.
The passes will be issued by individual nations, not from a centralized European system. They will contain a QR code with advanced security features. Personal information will not be shared with other nations.
Individuals coming from outside the EU, the overwhelming majority of whom should be vaccinated to enter, will be able to get a certificate if they can convince authorities within the EU nation they enter that they qualify for one.