The EU Commission proposed new rules for traveling in the European Union during the pandemic on Thursday.

The infection rate in the country of origin or destination should no longer be decisive, but rather the possession of a valid Covid certificate for vaccinated, convalescent and tested people.

Since the vaccination protection wears off, vaccinated people should receive a refresher no later than nine months after completing their first vaccination series so that their certificate remains valid.

Thomas Gutschker

Political correspondent for the European Union, NATO and the Benelux countries based in Brussels.

  • Follow I follow

This new regulation is to come into force as a politically but not legally binding recommendation by the Council of Member States from 10 January.

Based on this, the rules for entry from third countries will also change from March.

Special provisions apply to children.

Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders justified the transition to a “person-centered approach” with the success of the digital Covid certificate introduced in the summer.

In the meantime, 51 states have joined the system developed by the EU, it has become the “global standard” and at the same time the reference for access regulations in the member states.

The previous travel rules date from the time before the certificate was introduced.

In fact, with the proposal, the Commission is only tracking developments in the Member States.

Anyone who shows the proof on their mobile phone can already move almost unrestrictedly in the Schengen area.

Regulation for booster vaccination weakly justified

Despite the fourth wave of the pandemic and the explosion in the number of infections in many countries, the Commission is sticking to the 3-G rule. In principle, people should also be able to move freely who can only show a negative test. However, quarantine may be imposed on them if they come from or travel to high-risk areas. The previous cards, which show the risk in different colors, will not disappear. However, they should not only reflect the infection rate, but also the respective vaccination rate.

When it comes to boosting, the commission is entering difficult terrain. Some Member States have already started doing this and have set their own rules. France announced on Thursday that all adults would now receive a booster, just five months after the last vaccination. You have two months for this; because without a refresher, the vaccination certificate expires after a total of seven months. Reynders saw this as evidence that a uniform EU regulation was necessary.

However, his proposed nine-month deadline is poorly justified. Scientific studies, which he also referred to, show that the protective effect decreases significantly in the first six months. With the AstraZeneca vaccine, it may expire in as little as four months. Reynders, however, pointed out that three more months of “lead time” were needed so that all states could prepare a booster program.

Even entries from third countries that are not urgently required have so far been based on the infection process.

States that are considered to be sufficiently safe are placed on a “positive list”;

Currently there are 19. In the future, vaccination protection for travelers will also be the focus here.

This affects those who have recovered or have been vaccinated and will, for example, make tourist entry from the United States and Israel considerably easier.

Anyone who has been vaccinated with a Russian or Chinese vaccine also needs a PCR test.

In contrast to the Schengen area, a negative test is only sufficient for children, but not for adults.