Reply
22.7.2021
The EU Digital COVID Certificates proposals referred to by the Honourable Members have been adopted through Regulations (EU) 2021/953 and 2021/954[1]. They apply from 1 July 2021, for 12 months, and are binding in their entirety and directly applicable in all Member States, thus providing legal certainty. These Regulations lay down a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable certificates on COVID-19 vaccination, testing and recovery for the purpose of facilitating the holders’ exercise of their right to free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic. These Regulations will also contribute to facilitating the gradual lifting of restrictions on free movement put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19, in a coordinated manner.
In addition, on 25 May 2021, EU leaders welcomed the revision[2] of Council Recommendation 2020/912 on non-essential travel into the EU and called, as a next step, for the revision of Council Recommendation 2020/1475 on travel within the EU[3]. On 14 June 2021, the Council adopted the recommendation amending Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic[4].
With regard to tourism, in its conclusions[5] adopted on 27 May 2021 on ‘Tourism in Europe for the next decade: sustainable, resilient, digital, global and social’, the Council stressed the importance of addressing the needs and potential of tourism SMEs and micro-enterprises as drivers for social and economic convergence contributing to balanced regional development and job creation.
F ollowing a call from the Council to launch a comprehensive overview of current funding sources for tourism in the EU, on 12 May 2021 the Commission published a new ‘Guide on EU funding for tourism’[6] highlighting a wide range of EU funding programmes relevant to the tourism ecosystem included in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and the Next Generation EU instrument.
In addition, for the nine outermost regions of the EU as defined in Article 349 TFEU, most of which, including the Canary Islands, are highly dependent on tourism, the Treaty provides for tailor-made EU support measures based on proposals from the Commission .
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2021/953 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2021 on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic; OJ L 211, 15.6.2021, p. 1; Regulation (EU) 2021/954 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2021 on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) with regard to third-country nationals legally staying or residing in the territories of Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic; OJ L 211, 15.6.2021, p. 24.
- [2] 8822/1/21 REV 1.
- [3] EUCO 5/21.
- [4] 9603/21.
- [5] 8881/21.
- [6] Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/tourism/funding-guide_en