EU lawmakers approved a new travel certificate on Wednesday that is set to allow citizens to move between European countries without needing to quarantine or undergo additional COVID-19 testing, paving the way for the resumption of travel in time for the summer season. This long-awaited certificate aims to rescue the travel industry in Europe and key tourist sites from another disastrous holiday season. Major travel destinations such as Greece spearheaded the push for the certificate, which will be provided quickly in both paper and digital formats. Many EU countries have already begun using the new system, including Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, and Poland.
Currently, travel within the 27 EU countries remains experimental for both tourists and airlines. Countries have different mobility systems related to COVID-19, with those marked in green considered safe, while those marked in red should be avoided. However, each country applies different rules and standards, making travel confusing for everyone. The new regulations governing vaccine certificates were approved in two votes in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, with rules for EU citizens passing by 546 votes in favor to 93 against, and 51 members abstaining.
A total of 553 lawmakers approved the rules for individuals from outside the EU, with 91 voting against and 46 abstaining. The vote still requires approval from EU countries, but this is expected to be a formality. This means that starting July 1 for a period of 12 months, all EU countries must recognize the vaccination certificate. The certificates are set to be issued free of charge and attest that a person has either been fully vaccinated against the virus, tested negative recently, or recovered from the illness.
