EU Approves Albanian Digital COVID-19 Travel Certificates

Albania from Thursday has become the second Western Balkan country, after North Macedonia, to have its digital COVID-19 travel certificates accepted as equal to those issued by the EU.

This means that Albania, like North Macedonia since August, will now be connected to the EU's digital Common Pass system, and all its citizens who have been vaccinated, have tested negative or have recovered from COVID-19, will be able to obtain a digital travel certificate.

The EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate Regulation entered into force on July 1, 2021. The EU has so far included 42 countries into it - its 27 member states plus 15 outer non-EU countries.

Certificate holders should be exempted from movement restrictions, and EU member states should refrain from imposing extra travel restrictions on them unless they are deemed necessary to safeguard the public health.

"During this summer we have seen that citizens are able to travel safely thanks to the EU Digital COVID Certificate. This is a win-win situation: citizens can enjoy their right to free movement and businesses as well as the transport sector can start making up for the losses," EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said on Wednesday, when the European Commission green-lighted Albania, along with six other non-EU countries.

Commissioner Reynders added that they are also cooperating with more countries, including those from the Western Balkans, so that they can also be included.

Serbia and Montenegro have already confirmed their intention to join the system and align their own national COVID-19 certificates with that of the EU.

While digital certificates make travel less complicated for people in Albania and North Macedonia, those from other Western Balkan Countries,...