The EU recognizes the vaccination certificates issued by Cape Verde, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates

Residents of Cape Verde, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with both mandatory doses and hold a vaccination certificate issued by the competent authorities of their country may soon enter the Member States of the European Union without restrictions.

This could happen soon, as the European Commission has recognized the vaccination certificates issued by these three countries as equivalent to the EU COVID Digital Certificate in three separate decisions issued on 10 December. However, it is up to the Member States when they want to start accepting the certificates of these three countries.

"As a result, the three countries will be connected to the EU system, and their certificates will be accepted under the same conditions as the EU COVID digital certificate.", Explains a press release of the Commission, adding that the decisions enter into force on the date on which they were adopted.

The Commission also explains that the authorities in Cape Verde, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to allow the entry of EU citizens holding the EU COVID digital certificate.

Commenting on the decisions, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders reiterated that there are currently more than 55 countries and territories on five continents in the EU's COVID digital system.