Negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached an agreement in the evening of Monday 13 June on extending the legal basis of the EU Covid certificate by one year. It can be used in the Member States until June 2023, the two parties announced in a statement. The current legal basis for the EU Covid certificate, which is supposed to enhance free movement in the EU in times of pandemic, will expire on 30 June (see EUROPE 12941/19).
It was agreed on Monday that the European Commission would review this additional extension in six months’ time.
This detailed report will have to be submitted by 31 December 2022, possibly accompanied by legislative proposals allowing for a new assessment of the need to repeal or maintain the certificate, depending on the development of the health situation, explains the EU Council.
In delivering its opinion, the Commission will have to rely on scientific advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Health Security Committee (HSC). The Commission will also have to publish in its review all developments of the certificate at national and international level, says the European Parliament.
Member States will remain free to impose additional restrictions on the EU Covid certificate, as they have done during previous waves of the virus. They should only impose such restrictions if they are “necessary, proportionate and non-discriminatory”.
In addition, the agreement clarifies that vaccination certificates should reflect: - all doses administered, irrespective of the Member State where the person was vaccinated; - the possibility of issuing a recovery certificate following an antigen test; - the extension of the range of antigenic tests authorised to obtain a Covid-19 certificate; - the possibility of authorising the issue of vaccination certificates to people participating in clinical trials.
The regulation is due to enter into force on 30 June. The European Parliament is expected to confirm this agreement at its plenary session on 23 and 24 June. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)