(1)

Regulation (EU) 2021/953 lays down a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (‘EU Digital COVID Certificate’) for the purpose of facilitating the holders’ exercise of their right to free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also to contribute to facilitating the gradual lifting of restrictions to free movement put in place by Member States, in accordance with Union law, to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2, in a coordinated manner.

(2)

Regulation (EU) 2021/953 allows for the acceptance of COVID-19 certificates issued by third countries to Union citizens and their family members where the Commission finds that those COVID-19 certificates are issued in accordance with standards that are to be considered as equivalent to those established pursuant to that Regulation. Furthermore, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/954 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), Member States have to apply the rules laid down in Regulation (EU) 2021/953 to third-country nationals who do not fall within the scope of that Regulation, but who are legally staying or residing in their territory and who are entitled to travel to other Member States in accordance with Union law. Therefore, any equivalence findings laid down in this Decision should apply to COVID-19 vaccination and recovery certificates issued by the State of Israel to Union citizens and their family members. Similarly, on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2021/954, such equivalence findings should also apply to COVID-19 vaccination certificates and recovery issued by the State of Israel to third-country nationals legally staying or residing in the territory of the Member States under the conditions laid down in that Regulation.

(3)

On 19 July 2021, the State of Israel provided the Commission with detailed information on the issuance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination and recovery certificates under the system entitled ‘Ramzor’. The State of Israel informed the Commission that it considered that its COVID-19 certificates are being issued in accordance with a standard and a technological system that are interoperable with the trust framework established by Regulation (EU) 2021/953 and that allow for the verification of the authenticity, validity and integrity of the certificates. In this regard, the State of Israel informed the Commission that COVID-19 certificates issued by the State of Israel in accordance with the ‘Ramzor’ system contain the data set out in the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2021/953.

(4)

On 6 September 2021, following a request by the State of Israel, the Commission carried out technical tests that demonstrated that the COVID-19 vaccination and recovery certificates are issued by the State of Israel in accordance with a system, the ‘Ramzor’, that is interoperable with the trust framework established by Regulation (EU) 2021/953, and allows for the verification of the authenticity, validity and integrity of the certificates. The Commission also confirmed that the COVID-19 vaccination and recovery certificates issued by the State of Israel in accordance with the ‘Ramzor’ system contain the necessary data.

(5)

In addition, the State of Israel informed the Commission that it issues interoperable vaccination certificates for COVID-19 vaccines. These currently include Comirnaty and Spikevax.

(6)

Furthermore, the State of Israel informed the Commission that it issues interoperable certificates of recovery. Those certificates are valid for not more than 180 days after the date of the first positive test.

(7)

The State of Israel informed the Commission that it accepts vaccination, test and recovery certificates issued by the Member States and EEA countries in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/953.

(8)

The State of Israel also informed the Commission that it accepts the vaccination certificate and waives travel restrictions for people vaccinated with vaccines having received an EU-wide marketing authorisation pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 726/2004.

(9)

The State of Israel further informed the Commission that it accepts the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test COVID-19 (NAAT) (e.g. Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction, RT-PCR) certificates issued by the Member States and EEA countries. However, the State of Israel indicates that all travellers, including those holding local test results, must repeat a NAAT (e.g. RT-PCR) upon landing, indicating that no travel restrictions are waived as a result of the pre-flight test other than to allow boarding of the flight. In addition, Israel does not accept rapid antigen tests.

(10)

In addition, the State of Israel informed the Commission that when verifiers in the State of Israel verify certificates, the personal data included in them will be processed only to verify and confirm the holder’s vaccination, test result or recovery status and will not be retained afterwards.

(11)

The necessary elements for establishing that COVID-19 certificates issued by the State of Israel in accordance with the ‘Ramzor’ system are to be considered as equivalent to those issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/953 are thus fulfilled.

(12)

Therefore, COVID-19 certificates issued by the State of Israel in accordance with the ‘Ramzor’ system should be accepted under the conditions referred to in Article 5(5) and Article 7(8) of Regulation (EU) 2021/953.

(13)

In order for this Decision to be operational, the State of Israel should be connected to the EU Digital COVID Certificate trust framework established by Regulation (EU) 2021/953.

(14)

In order to protect the Union’s interests, in particular in the area of public health, the Commission may use its powers to suspend or terminate this Decision if the conditions of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/953 are no longer met.

(15)

In the light of the need to connect the State of Israel to the EU Digital COVID Certificate trust framework established by Regulation (EU) 2021/953 as rapidly as possible, this Decision should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(16)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2021/953,