The European Union system, responsible for verifying the security features contained in the QR codes of all EU digital COVID certificates, came into operation on 1 June. Seven EU Member States have already started using the digital passport, one month before the deadline for implementation "EU COVID digital certificate".
As of 1 June, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Croatia and Poland have already connected to the system and started issuing the first EU COVID-19 travel certificates, while some countries have decided to connect to the EU. system only when all functions at European level will be implemented.
Seven EU Member States have already started using the "EU COVID Digital Certificate".
According to an EU Commission press release on this stage, several countries will join the system in the coming days and weeks. On May 10, 22 countries - including Romania - have successfully tested the computer system that facilitates the generation COVID digital certificates UE, the transmission of the security elements that allow the verification, their centralization in the European gateway and the validation of the QR codes by the other member states of the European Union.
The regulation will apply from 1 July. Until then, the political agreement of 20 May must be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. Following the entry into force of the Regulation, there will be a phasing-in period of six weeks, during which Member States - which need additional time - will start issuing certificates. At the same time, the Commission will provide technical and financial support to Member States in this regard.
Health and Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, on the other hand, insisted that it is important for Member States to set up national systems in the coming weeks so that the system can be fully operational in time for the summer season.
The EU Commission came up with the idea of creating the EU's COVID digital certificate to facilitate the safe free movement of citizens in the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea was unveiled on March 17, after which, on that day, the Commission worked closely with Member States to create a digital passport that would be accepted by all countries.