The European Parliament adopted by 540 votes to 80, with 70 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable certificates on vaccination, testing and recovery to third-country nationals legally staying or legally residing in the territories of Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic (Digital Green Certificate).
The matter was referred back to the committee responsible for inter-institutional negotiations.
The proposal aims to facilitate the movement of third country nationals within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing a common framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable certificates of vaccination, testing and recovery from COVID-19.
Without prejudice to the common measures on the crossing of internal borders by persons as laid down in the Schengen acquis, in particular in Regulation (EU) 2016/399, the framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable certificates on COVID-19 vaccination, testing and recovery should also apply to third-country nationals who are not already covered by the EU COVID-19 certificate Regulation provided that they are legally staying or residing in the territory of a Member State and are authorised to travel to other Member States in accordance with Union law.
Member States should be required to accept, under the same conditions, valid vaccination certificates issued by other Member States in compliance with this Regulation. On grounds of public health, this obligation should be limited to persons having received COVID-19 vaccines having been granted marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or vaccines having received a WHO Emergency Use Listing.
For certificates to be used effectively in connection with cross-border travel, they should be fully interoperable. Members stressed that all EU transport hubs, such as airports, ports, railway and bus stations, where the certificate is being verified, should apply standardised and common criteria and procedures for the verification of the EU COVID-19 certificate on the basis of guidance developed by the Commission.
Furthermore, the Regulation should facilitate the application of the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination with regard to possible restrictions to free movement and other fundamental rights as a result of the pandemic, while pursuing a high level of public health protection and should not be understood as facilitating or encouraging the adoption of travel restrictions to free movement, or other fundamental rights, in response to the pandemic.