This Italian region now has Europe’s highest Tibetan bridge
It’s not for the faint-hearted
All Member States should start using it by 1 July
The European Commission informed today that it has reached a key milestone in the implementation of the Digital COVID certificate. The technical system for certificate verification at the European Union level was put into operation on 1 June. This allows for secure verification of the health status document, without compromising travellers’ data.
This does not yet mean that the EU Digital COVID Certificate is fully operational, however – some countries, which are technically ready, can already start using the system and convert their national certificates into the new format, while the entire EU should be ready with the process by 1 July, when the European regulation comes into force.
As we reported earlier, the EU DIGITAL COVID certificate (formerly referred to as Digital Green Certificate) was proposed by the EU executive with a view to allowing safe travel in the summer. The document, available in digital and/or paper format, will serve as proof that a person has been either vaccinated against COVID-19, tested negative prior to departure or has recently recovered from the illness (a different variation of the certificate will be available for each case).
The certificate is issued on the national level by a hospital, a test centre, a health authority, with each authority having its own digital signature key. These keys are stored in a secure database in each country. Now, the European Commission has built a common gateway through which all certificate signatures can be verified across the EU.
The certificate operates with a Quick Response (QR code) and is offered in a national language and in English. The newly-launched portal allows authorities in other countries to check the features contained in the QR codes of all certificates, i.e. their authenticity. This completes the preparatory work at EU level.
The Commission also reported that until today, 22 countries have successfully tested the portal. Although the regulation will apply from 1 July, all Member States that have already completed the technical tests and are ready to issue and verify certificates can start using the system on a voluntary basis.
As of today, seven Member States - Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Croatia and Poland - have started issuing the first EU certificates. Some countries are waiting for all functions to be available at the national level before launching the EU DIGITAL COVID certificate (see where the EU Digital Certificate is available on the map in the Gallery above).
Up-to-date information on the progress of the work on the implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate is available here.
What are the reasons for that and are there any possible solutions for that problem?
Possibly making it the only legislature in the world with a religious temple on-site
It’s not for the faint-hearted
Presenting the next chapter in the Dutch capital’s ‘Stay Away’ campaign aimed at rowdy tourists
The City says this has become a necessity due to the increasing number of incidents involving these vehicles
That way you can notify a canal lock keeper to open the gates so the animals can swim through
The organizers had been considering different Parisian spots, but always with the idea of the flame being visible to the people
Electricity production in that Eastern European country will not release direct CO2 emissions anymore
Possibly making it the only legislature in the world with a religious temple on-site
This initiative is not just about making books more accessible – it has larger ambitions in its sights
We owe the unusual cultural icon to this country in Europe
The country’s capital has been a pioneer in crafting policy and initiatives to improve coexistence between people and pets
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team