BRUSSELS, April 14 (Reuters) – European Union countries formally agreed on Wednesday to launch COVID travel steps as a step towards reopening tourism this summer and will negotiate details with bloc lawmakers in May, they reported two diplomatic sources.
Certificates would allow vaccinated, recovered from COVID-19 or with negative test results to travel more easily to the EU, where traffic restrictions have weighed heavily on the tourism and travel industry for more than a year.
The 27 EU member states “underlined their commitment to have the framework ready by the summer of 2021,” a document approved by national envoys and seen by Reuters said.
The European Parliament, which must also accept the proposal for it to enter into force, must agree on its own position by the end of this month and final talks between legislators, national envoys and the executive are expected. of the blog begin in May.
EU countries are working in parallel to ensure “the necessary technological solutions are in place”, according to the EU27 decision, so that the new digital or paper certificates can be used once approved.
The agreement of the member states includes anti-discrimination provisions against those who cannot or do not want to be vaccinated and allows a series of tests to prove their recovery.
While member states would be required to recognize EU-approved vaccines, specific countries could also issue certificates covering Russia’s Sputnik or China’s Sinovac vaccines that are only authorized in their territory.
Other EU countries will decide whether to accept a certificate regarding a vaccine not approved by EU regulators. (Report by Gabriela Baczynska; edited by Philip Blenkinsop)