MEPs want PCR tests for tourists to be “universal, accessible and free” in order to be able to travel within the European Union, with the Covid certificate. This would avoid economic discrimination among Europeans who will be able to travel because they have received the coronavirus vaccine free of charge.
The negotiating mandate was approved by a large majority of 540 votes in favour, 119 against and 31 abstentions.
MEPs agree with Brussels and the Council that it should be a free document for all, that it can be issued in physical or digital format, and that in no case should it be understood as a “passport” that opens borders, but as a document with medical information to adapt the traveller to pandemic restrictions.
The certificate will help the holders to certify whether they have been vaccinated – with what serum and when -, whether they are immunised because they have already overcome the disease or, as a third option, whether they have a negative diagnostic test carried out in the 72 hours prior to the trip.
In a non-legislative resolution also adopted in the same plenary, MEPs go further and call for tests that are not carried out under the certificate of immunity to be free of charge, in particular in the case of front-line workers, such as health workers – and patients – and staff of schools, universities and nurseries. The same resolution calls for the introduction of a temporary price ceiling for COVID-19 diagnostic tests that are not carried out for the certificate.
During negotiations with Member States and Brussels, Parliament will also argue that certificate holders should not be subject to additional restrictions and should therefore be exempted from the obligation of quarantine, self-isolation or additional tests on arrival at their destination.
In the debate before the vote, the chair of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee and rapporteur for Parliament’s position, Spanish Socialist Juan Fernando López Aguilar, warned that this immunity document should not be used by countries to filter, for example, access to restaurants, cinemas or other public places.
As for the vaccines recognised by the certificate, MEPs call for it to be issued only to patients who have been inoculated with vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), although it leaves the door open for each country to decide whether to recognise other certificates issued by Member States for vaccines on the World Health Organisation’s list.
