On Tuesday December 21, the European Commission effected rules which make the European Union’s COVID-19 certificate travel valid for nine months from the completion of the primary vaccine schedule. This proposal follows the introduction of several travel requirements put into place by a number EU states in an attempt to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant.
The European Union’s Justice Commissioner Dider Reynders told Reuters that the Commission was against increasing requirements and was assessing relevant measures. This new rule will be binding in 27 EU member states as of February first and will those oblige EU states to welcome fully-vaccinated travellers with a valid vaccine pass in their respective territories while also being allowed to add further requirements if they deem fit.
Italy, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Latvia, Cyprus and Austria require fully-vaccinated individuals from other countries within the EU to present a negative COVID test on arrival, a precaution which some have argued damages the vaccine pass’s credibility.
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