EU shows why it is not accepting Kosovo's vaccine certificates

So have sources from the European Union for Radio Free Europe.

These sources say preparations are under way and that when conditions are met, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina can be included in this system.

Two days ago, Montenegro joined this system, while earlier it was Albania, Northern Macedonia and Serbia.

The inclusion of third states on the EU Vaccination Digital Certificate list allows that vaccine certificates issued at those countries with automatism are also recognised in European Union countries.

This means that in each institution, local or country in the EU, the QR codes from these will be read as well as all similar claims issued by the authorities of member states.

The failure to include Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina in this system is already creating practical obstacles for those travelling to European Union countries.

“Since the beginning of the EU pandemic has witnessed the dedication to treating the Western Balkans region as a privileged partner, including them in EU mechanisms and instruments in the context of the COVID- 19”, said Christian Wigand, spokesperson for legal issues.

This European Commission spokesman has underlined that EU experts have had review meetings with all partners from the region, and the process is under way.

He has said the EU hopes that the “more partners from the region will soon join this EU system”.

On December 16th, Radio Free Europe has reported that Kosovo citizens, from January of next year, may not be allowed to travel to European Union countries, as the bloc does not yet recognise the certificates of anti-cronavirus vaccine issued in Kosovo.

The Kosovo Ministry of Health had said the problem with certificates is technical nature.

We are in the phase when the QR offline code should be read out [without being connected to the internet]. It's read only online. The issue concerns the technical aspect”, Deputy Health Minister Dafina Geja tells Radio Free Europe.

So-called code When the QR is scanned, it provides information on the type of vaccine taken, the number of doses, and the site of vaccine.

We recall that the EU, on January 10th, aims to stop all those who are not vaccinated with the third dose of vaccine. Currently, to enter one of the bloc's countries, negative test is enough Coronervirus PCR.

The final foreign travel decision, the EU is expected to make at the end of December.