BRUSSELS, Feb 3 (KUNA) - The European Commission Thursday proposed to extend the EU Digital COVID Certificate by a year, until 30 June 2023.
European Union adopted the Regulation on the EU Digital COVID Certificate on 14 June 2021. It applies since 1 July 2021. The regulation was set to expire on 30 June 2022, said a press release released by the EU's executive body today.
The COVID-19 virus continues to be prevalent in Europe and at this stage, it is not possible to determine the impact of a possible increase in infections in the second half of 2022 or of the emergence of new variants, it noted.
Extending the Regulation will ensure that travelers can continue using their EU Digital COVID Certificate when traveling in the EU where the EU Member States maintain certain public health measures. The Commission said it is adopting the proposal today to make sure the European Parliament and the EU member states can conclude the legislative procedure in time before the current Regulation expires. EU Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, commented: "We cannot predict how the pandemic will evolve, but we can make sure that citizens continue to benefit from a certificate that works and is accepted wherever they go." "Without this extension, we risk having many divergent national systems, and all the confusion and obstacles that this would cause," he added.
EU Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton said: "With more than 1.2 billion certificates issued and 60 countries connected, the EU Digital COVID Certificate has become a global standard." "We continue to facilitate the acceptance of COVID certificates across borders, as the pandemic evolves. This is an important enabler of free movement and travels even in times of uncertainty", he added." (end) nk