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Everything is ready for the introduction of EU digital COVID certificates on June 1

The government held a telephone session today, May 31, 2021, during which it adopted a Decision on the establishment of a national system for issuing EU digital COVID certificates.

The Government of the Republic of Croatia established a Working Group at a session held on April 8, 2021, to develop a technical solution for cross-border interoperable digital green certificates with the aim of creating a national system of digital green certificates. The Croatian national system for issuing EU digital COVID certificates is ready to start operating from June 1, 2021, and the procedure for integration with the EU gateway has been formally completed, ensuring their cross-border interoperability.

Additionally, the Ministry of the Interior has successfully integrated the validation of EU digital COVID certificates into the National Border Information System, and all organizational and technical prerequisites for the implementation of the Government’s Decision on the establishment of a national system for issuing EU digital COVID certificates have been ensured.

Although the procedure for adopting the Regulation on the EU digital COVID certificate will be completed by the end of June, the interoperable European gateway for the central exchange of public PKI certificates of member states will formally start operating on June 1, 2021, and all member states that have developed, tested, and Commission-approved national solutions can implement the processes for issuing and validating EU digital COVID certificates in their national systems. The Republic of Croatia has confirmed its readiness through application and testing procedures with the European Commission and has obtained the Commission’s approval for integration with the EU gateway, and is fully prepared for the introduction of the EU digital COVID certificate.

Since the technical solution for cross-border interoperable EU digital COVID certificates is ready to start operating from June 1, and in order to facilitate the freedom of movement of citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and contribute to the gradual lifting of restrictions, it is in the interest of citizens that the start of the application of EU digital COVID certificates is aligned with the start of operations of the central European gateway, which is why this Decision is being made.

In addition to facilitating the movement of citizens when crossing the border crossings of the Republic of Croatia, as well as the border crossings of EU member states with which bilateral agreements will be concluded, this certificate can also be used for other purposes in accordance with the decisions of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia made in accordance with the Law on the Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases.

AKD will make all necessary information, instructions, and data on the issuance and purpose of EU digital COVID certificates available to citizens through a public informational website, and will also regularly update the website.

The EU digital COVID certificate will be used in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and solely for the downloading and processing of data contained in the certificate.

Materials from today’s telephone session are available via the link.

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