The EU has launched a digital travel certificate

The European Union’s travel system was launched on Thursday with the aim of helping European citizens reorganize throughout the bloc without encouraging quarantine to boost summer tourism.

EU “digital green certificate” vaccine certificate, Covid-19 negative test or virus recovery certificate will allow Europeans to travel to other Member States. The application-based certificate provides passengers with a QR code to prevent quarantine in other Member States.

The certificate was agreed by EU governments and MEPs in May and was presented following pressure from southern economies that are based on tourism and in dire need of summer visitors.

The system, which is widespread in all 27 member states, was already being tried by many countries before it was launched. According to the European Commission, more than 200m certificates have now been downloaded.

Brussels has come under pressure to implement a system of coordinated travel so that member states do not impose their own rules. The airline and travel industry has also called for the incorporation of technology to facilitate safe travel for embedded and unintegrated citizens.

“The European Digital Certificate is a symbol of an open and secure Europe that is prudently opening up the protection of the health of our citizens as soon as possible,” said Commission Chair Ursula von der Leyen.

Citizens from outside the European Union can join the block if they have been completely vaccinated with a jab recognized by the European Medicines Agency. Member States may also choose to allow passengers who have received other owners who have been granted an emergency permit by the World Health Organization.

“A lot of paperwork is needed at the moment to travel to and from Greece,” said Isidora Chandeli, manager of the Verina boutique hotels on the island of Sifnos. “European passports will greatly facilitate the process.”