Formal signature of the EU Digital COVID Certificate at the European Parliament in Brussels: Joint statements by David SASSOLI, President of the European Parliament, Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission and Antonio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

ceremony

signature

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

COSTA, António (PT)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

EU covid-19 certificate (T)

Signing ceremony of the EU Digital COVID Certificate: Joint statements by David SASSOLI, EP President, Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission and Antonio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/2171911/I207349Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Dear President of the Council, President von der LEYEN, Commissioner, President of the LIBE Committee. The European Parliament has strongly supported its efforts to ensure a coordinated approach in the fight against the pandemic only with a European response. We thought it might be useful and contain all the tools to overcome this state of difficulty. 

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Parliament considered that a common approach could regulate issues related to the free movement of people, and a vaccination certificate is the right tool. The right tool to allow all of our citizens, our citizens and our elderly to our children in an equal and non-discriminatory way to return to normal life.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, The European Parliament has largely committed itself to adopting this Covid certificate before the summer of the European Union in a joint effort with all the institutions here are represent and today we can congratulate you on the fact that we managed and achieved results.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, As you know, in order to facilitate its adoption, the European Parliament has decided to accelerate its approval using the emergency procedure. As is well known by the rapporteur Lopez Aguilar, the Portuguese Presidency, Commissioner Reynders, a series of fast-paced Triogue meetings have been held in recent weeks supplemented by numerous meetings at the level technical to allow success.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, As you know, for Parliament, certificates cannot be a prerequisite for free movement as it is a fundamental right of the European Union and cannot lead to discrimination. Of course, discrimination against those who hold it.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We are particularly pleased that the certificate will not be a prerequisite for exercising the right to free movement and that the certificate will be in force for 12 months with a caducity clause. This was very important to us. After this period, of course, the certificate will expire.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, I am firmly convinced that today is a great day for the process of European integration. As the creation of the European Union certificate for Covid 19 will restore our confidence in the Schengen area while continuing to fight the pandemic to which so many citizens are unfortunately undergo. A pandemic that naturally continues to be very critical and of which we will only be able to feel outside when all the citizens of our planet have the opportunity to have the means to counter the Covid 19. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ant&#243;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Today, we are making a big step towards a safe recovery to recover our freedom of movement and to boost economic recovery, the digital certificate is an inclusive tool. It includes people who recovered from covid, people who tested negative and vaccinated people. Now we can travel on safety, safe for ourselves, for those who lost us and for our families, neighbours and colleagues when we come back.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ant&oacute;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, We must nevertheless not neglect to comply with sanitary rules. Even after being vaccinated. Today, we are sending a renewed signal of confidence to our citizens that together we will overcome this pandemic, enjoyTo travel again, safely and freely across the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ant&#243;nio COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, Today we took a very important step in order to be able to travel safely. An important step in strengthening our economy and our recovery. We now have the opportunity to travel freely and safely but always respecting safety regulations because it is necessary to continue to combat this pandemic.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Well, first of all, the president's presidency commission chair, ladies and gentlemen, on this day, 36 years ago, the Schengen Agreement was signed, five member states at that time decided to open their borders to one another. And this was the beginning of what today is for many, many citizens, one of the biggest achievements of Europe, the possibility to travel freely within our union. Today, the European Digital covid certificate reassures us of this spirit of an open Europe, a Europe without barriers, but also a Europe that is slowly but surely opening up after most difficult time, the pandemic. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, This certificate is a symbol of an open and digital Europe. We developed this certificate and record time, it will make travel in our union easier and it will give Europeans back the freedoms they value and cherish, so cherish so much. The European certificate is safe, it's secure, and it's for free. Citizens who are vaccinated, recovered from covid or have a negative test result will have the right to receive it.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And it must be recognised everywhere within the European Union. As of the 1st of July, these rules become applicable in all member states, we can be very proud of this achievement and I want to thank everyone who made it possible. Above all, of course, the presidency ambassador to the European Parliament, Chair L&oacute;pez Aguilar, and the commission here, the commissioner around, I think, very much for this amazing work that has been done. You have found an agreement on our commission's proposals in just two months. Sixty two days. So this is absolutely record time. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The European Union is also showing its leadership in the digital age. The commission has set up a gateway that will allow member states to verify that the certificates are authentic all across Europe. And I am particularly happy that midweek at least 15 member states will be connected. They are linked life to our EU structure and they start issuing certificates so further countries will then join in the coming days.

<p>SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Overall, thanks to the success of the European vaccination strategy and thanks to the success of this work on the EU digital covid certificate, we can look forward towards a good summer. We can look forward towards a travelling, towards travelling safely. And we will bring back the spirit of an open Europe. Our union is delivering. Thank you. And let's hope we be travelling again. </p>