MEPs approved on Tuesday 8 June, by 546 votes to 93 with 51 abstentions, the draft EU Digital Covid Certificate for EU nationals and by 553 votes to 91 with 46 abstentions the similar version for third country nationals, the European Parliament announced on Wednesday morning 9 June.
The certificate had been debated again the day before by MEPs, recognising that it would restore free movement and lift restrictions. Most had welcomed the agreement reached with the EU Council, including the Greens/EFA, who were satisfied with the high level of data protection offered by the agreement, as Tineke Strik (Netherlands) said. She also welcomed assurances that there would be no discrimination between those who had been vaccinated and those who had not.
However, several Greens/EFA MEPs voted against, such as French MEPs Damien Carême and Michèle Rivasi, or abstained, such as Philippe Lamberts (Belgium). Some S&D MEPs also voted against, such as Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella, denouncing the lack of free testing. French EPP member François Xavier Bellamy was the only member of his political family to abstain.
During the debate on 8 June, Commissioner Didier Reynders recalled that the Commission will be able to mobilise 100 million euros to finance PCR or rapid tests. He said he was confident that the debate on accessibility of tests has now started.
“I’m sure we’ll see things happening in the Member States soon”, he said.
The certificate will be available in digital or paper format and will contain a QR code. It will certify that the holder has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, has recently received a negative test result or has recovered from the infection, Parliament said in a statement.
A common European framework will allow certificates to be interoperable and authenticated throughout the EU and able to prevent fraud and falsification. The system will come into effect on 1 July 2021 and will be in place for 12 months. The certificate will not be a prerequisite for exercising the right to freedom of movement and will not be considered as a travel document. Further travel restrictions will only be possible if duly justified, according to the agreement reached with the EU Council.
Member States will also have to take into account scientific evidence, “including epidemiological data published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)”. They will have to notify other Member States and the Commission of new measures, if possible 48 hours in advance, and citizens, 24 hours in advance.
National ambassadors to the EU were expected to finalise the adoption procedure at their level on Wednesday 9 June, with a possible progression to the Energy Council on 11 June or a written procedure.
Links to texts: https://bit.ly/3zc4IR3 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)