On June 14, the Presidents of the three EU institutions - the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission - participated in the official signing ceremony for the regulation on an EU Digital COVID Certificate, marking the end of the legislative process.
On this occasion, Presidents David Sassoli and Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister António Costa declared: "The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a symbol of what Europe stands for. A Europe that does not falter when put to the test. A Europe that unites and grows when faced with challenges. Our Union has shown once again that we work better when we work together."
The aim of the EU Digital COVID Certificate is to facilitate free and safe movement within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. All Europeans have the right of free movement, also without the certificate, but it will facilitate travel by exempting holders from restrictions such as quarantine.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a digital document that will constitute proof that a person:
_ has been vaccinated against COVID-19, or
_ has received a negative test result, or
_ has recovered from COVID-19
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is optional and facilitates freedom of movement throughout the European Union during the COVID-19 pandemic. In other words, possession of the EU Digital COVID Certificate will not be a precondition for travel, which is a fundamental right in the EU. Citizens who do not possess or choose not to apply for this document can continue to travel, however, they may be subject to additional measures, such as testing procedures and mandatory quarantine/ prophylactic isolation, upon arrival at the destination country.
It can be obtained through the SNS 24 portal, which has already published a guide about the Certificate, or received at the email addresses of the National User Registry and the Electronic Health Registry. It will soon be available on other platforms.
Decree-Law no. 54-A/2021, of 25 June, implements in the internal legal order Regulation (EU) 2021/953 on the EU Digital COVID Certificate, an interoperable certificate containing information on vaccination, test results or recovery of the holder, issued in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
