BRUSSELS, April 14 (Reuters) – The countries of the European Union formally agreed on Wednesday to launch COVID travel passes as a step towards reopening for tourism this summer and will negotiate details with the bloc’s lawmakers in May, according to two diplomatic sources.
The certificates would allow those vaccinated, recovered from COVID-19 or with negative test results to travel more easily in the EU, where movement restrictions have been weighing heavily on the travel and tourism industry for over a year.
The 27 EU member states “underlined their commitment to have the framework ready by the summer of 2021,” according to a document endorsed by national envoys and seen by Reuters.
The European Parliament, which must also agree to the proposal for it to take effect, will determine its own position later this month and the final talks between the legislators, national envoys and the bloc’s executive are expected to begin in May .
EU countries are working in parallel to ensure that “the necessary technological solutions are in place”, was the decision of the EU27, so that the new digital or paper certificates can be used after approval.
The agreement with the Member States contains provisions against discrimination against those who cannot or will not be vaccinated and allows for a range of tests to prove recovery.
While Member States would be obliged to recognize EU-approved vaccines, specific countries could also issue certificates for vaccinations of Russian Sputnik or Chinese Sinovac vaccines that are only authorized in their territory.
Other EU countries would decide whether to accept a certificate referring to a vaccine that has not been approved by EU regulators. (Report by Gabriela Baczynska; edited by Philip Blenkinsop)