The disparity of regulations in the EU undermines the effectiveness of the Covid Digital Certificate.

Freedom of movement in Europe is being compromised by the failure of member states to harmonize entry regulations for each country, according to a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The reopening of borders is proving confusing for business travelers and calls into question the effectiveness of the EU's Digital Covid Certificate (DCC).

The organization representing the vast majority of active airlines draws attention to the differences in criteria between EU member states:

-About 30% of the countries using the EU Digital Covid Digital Certificate (DCC) do not accept rápid proofs.

-41% of states do not allow entry to vaccinated travelers from non-EU White List countries.

- There are also differences in how paperwork can be carried out to indicate the passengers' traceability forms: 45% accept them online, 33% accept them on paper and online, and 11% of governments only accept them on paper.

According to IATA, the reopening of borders in Europe is being confusing for business travelers, something that is also delaying economic recovery goals.

“It is essential that European states unite under the same travel procedures. The good work done by the Commission and the states to develop the Digital Certificate isá being wasted due to the mix of regulations without harmonization,”, stresses Rafael Schvartzmann, regional vice president Europe for IATA.

Among the measures proposed by the airline association is the checking of the DCC before passengers arrive at the airport to limit operational disruptions and give passengers certainty that they are ready to fly. According to IATA,Germany and Spain are two countries that observe best practices in this area.

In addition, it calls for developing a state portal to facilitate the verification of CDD directly by national authorities and limit the processing of health data by airlines. It also proposes to integrate digital passenger location forms into a state portal for CDD verification, which is not currently the case in 80% of European countries.

Among the requirements, IATA calls for the universal acceptance of rapid tests “instead of costly and unnecessary PCR tests”, as well as the universal opening of borders to vaccinated passengers.

Among the requirements, IATA calls for the universal acceptance of rapid tests “instead of costly and unnecessary PCR tests 

and the universal opening of borders to vaccinated passengers.