On Monday, the European Commission proposed for Member States to lift restrictions on non-essential travel for persons vaccinated against the coronavirus (Covid-19) traveling to the EU.
More specifically, according to an announcement, the Commission proposes to allow entry to the EU for non-essential reasons for:
– all persons coming from countries with a good epidemiological situation, and
At least 14 days before arrival, all people who have received the last recommended dose of an EU-authorised vaccine.
In addition, if Member States decide to waive the requirements to present a negative PCR test and/or to undergo quarantine for vaccinated persons on their territory, they should also waive such requirements for vaccinated travelers from outside the EU.
In particular, travelers should be able to prove their vaccination status with a Digital Green Certificate (EU Covid-19 Certificate) issued by Member States’ authorities on an individual basis, or with another certificate recognized as equivalent under a Commission adequacy decision.
The Commission underlines that until the Digital Green Certificate is operational, Member States should accept certificates from non-EU countries based on national law, taking into account the ability to verify the authenticity, validity, and integrity of the certificate whether it contains all relevant data.