Finally, the EU Parliament has approved a compromise position on the EU Digital Covid Certificate and it should be in issue from July 1.
The delay has been due to the EU Parliament´s proposal that the price of PCR tests should be free or affordable and that member countries of the EU should “abstain” from imposing additional restrictions on immunized visitors.
The EU has put aside 100 million euros to subsidise PCR testing.
The certificate aims to demonstrate that a person has been vaccinated, has antibodies, or has a negative PCR test and permits them freedom of movement around the EU.
Persons not vaccinated, for example, a 20 year old youth who has not had Covid nor been vaccinated, would be obliged to pay the costs of the PCR test, as opposed to a vaccinated person, entering a country which insists on a test, would not be required to pay any cost.
The compromise exists in the small print. The EU Parliament does not oblige countries to refrain from imposing additional restrictions but “asks countries to abstain”.
The PCR test will be free, when required by individual countries, for those vaccinated or have had Covid but will have a cost for those not vaccinated and have not had Covid.
