During the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) May plenary a resolution promoted by all political groups, which welcomes the European Commission's proposal to create an EU Digital COVID Certificate, was adopted by unanimity.

​The resolution on free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic (EU Digital COVID Certificate) and the scaling up of vaccine production outlines that in order to give the tourism sector the boost it so badly needs the creation of a common EU Digital COVID Certificate would facilitate unrestricted movement within the EU and essentially save the tourism sector. CoR members agreed that a common approach to verifying and certifying people's status in relation to COVID‑19 is paramount to ensure the efficiency, effectiveness and interoperability of policies and of technical solutions to monitor the pandemic, and to facilitate the exercise of the right to move and reside freely within the territory of all EU Member States.

In drafting the resolution many of the ECR Group's points were taken on board such as how the EU Digital COVID Certificate could be a means of combating and eliminating the threat of fake COVID-19 certificates, cases of which have been reported. We urged for high security standards to be guaranteed in particular concerning paper-based certificates. In addition, when talking about the considerable consequences the pandemic has had for the free movement of citizens within the European Union and beyond, we called to draw particular attention to the impact on cross-border commuting.

CoR members voted in favour of the ECR amendment calling for a new point on non-discrimination – a prerequisite in drawing up such certificates; non-discrimination must mean that people who are not vaccinated but have a valid test confirming they are healthy are being able to exercise their right to travel. Such a test must be available widely and at a minimum cost. Another ECR amendment urging Member States to exercise caution in how they use the EU Digital COVID Certificate and calling for basic services to be available to all citizens was also voted in favour.

After long and intense negotiations, the Council and the European Parliament have reached a political agreement on the certificate and will be voted by Parliament in plenary in June.