Brussels: Members of the European Parliament approved on Thursday the extension of the validity of the EU Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC) for another year until June 30, 2023.
“The European Parliament plenary has endorsed the deal with member states to extend the legal framework of the EU Digital Covid Certificate for another 12 months… The current rules, which were due to expire next week, will be valid until 30 June 2023,” the parliament said in a statement.
The European Commission may propose a termination of the certificates after six months if they are no longer necessary due to the improvement of the epidemiological situation.
“Due to the unpredictable evolution of the virus, the Parliament has extended the application of the EUDCC for a year to ensure citizens have the right to free movement within the EU. We hope this is the last extension and we have tasked the Commission to assess by 31 December 2022 whether the EUDCC could be repealed as soon as the epidemiological situation allows,” a member of the EU parliament, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, said.
The Council must formally adopt the extension, which will then enter into force after it is published in the Official Journal of the EU.
