Israel, EU Reach Deal To Mutually Recognize Vaccine Certificates

Israel and the European Union reached an agreement on Wednesday to mutually recognize vaccine certificates, the Foreign Ministry announced, in a move that will allow travelers access to Green Pass programs.

The ministry said work on the agreement would be completed in early October and would give vaccinated Israeli tourists and business people access to the EU Green Pass, allowing entrance to “restaurants, cultural centers, public institutions and more.”

It would also allow Israel to gear up to begin accepting tourists from Europe, the statement said. Furthermore, it will allow Israelis access to other countries’ programs, should they join the initiative in the future.

However, the ministry cautioned that the program does not supersede entry requirements of individual EU nations, like Portugal and Sweden, which currently bar Israeli tourists. It also allows Israel to continue to bar entry to travelers from specific EU countries if it chooses.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid hailed the agreement as “an important step in laying the groundwork for a return to normal with regard to flight and tourism ties between Israel and the EU.”

Israeli travel to Europe has plummeted in recent weeks after the EU removed Israel from a list of nations deemed “epidemiologically safe,” and Portugal and Sweden responded by slapping entry bans on Israelis for all but humanitarian and essential reasons.

Israeli holiday travel to Europe largely stopped due to entry ban fears

Israelis are abandoning plans to travel to Europe in large numbers, amid fears that they could find themselves barred from entry or suddenly required to quarantine upon return home.

Travel agents report many people changing plans and deciding to staycation over the Jewish holidays, after decisions two weeks ago by Portugal and Sweden to bar Israelis except for essential and humanitarian needs raised worries that other countries will follow suit and holidays would be suddenly disrupted.

Travelers from Israel and the US who are not inoculated against the coronavirus are now only permitted entry to France if they can prove an essential reason for making the trip and can present a negative test before traveling. And they will need to quarantine for seven days upon arrival.

Several other EU countries are barring non-vaccinated Israelis.