Tools facilitating travel within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary:

​​The objective of our audit was to assess whether the European Commission had developed effective tools to facilitate travel within the European Union (EU) during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Overall, we conclude that, despite its limited competence in public health policy, the Commission moved fast to propose suitable technological solutions to facilitate travel.

However, the Members’ States use of these tools varied significantly, so the tools’ impact in facilitating travel within the EU was uneven, ranging from success in some cases to limited use in others. Our recommendations focus on the need to analyse and address the reasons for the low uptake of certain tools, streamline communication on incidents relating to the EU Digital COVID Certificate and prepare relevant EU tools for future crises.

Further information:

The Council of the European Union adopted a set of conclusions concerning this report on 24 April 2023.

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• Alternative Source
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Official

EUR-LEX: OJ C 145, 27/04/2023: Council conclusions on Special Report No 01/2023 by the European Court of Auditors: Tools facilitating travel within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic – Relevant initiatives with impact ranging from success to limited use https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2023.145.01.0003.01.ENG

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