Date: 2022-07-01Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1099 of 30 June 2022 establishing the equivalence, for the purpose of facilitating the right of free movement within the Union, of COVID-19 certificates issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain to the certificates issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/953 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance)
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers
Executive Summary:
This Commission Implementing Decision establishes that COVID-19 certificates issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain, via the BeAware Bahrain application, are equivalent to those issued under EU Regulation 2021/953, facilitating free movement within the Union. Bahrain's system is interoperable with the EU Digital COVID Certificate framework. The decision took effect upon publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on June 30, 2022.
Key Points / Main Content:
Equivalence of Certificates:
* COVID-19 vaccination, test, and recovery certificates issued by Bahrain's BeAware Bahrain application are considered equivalent to EU Digital COVID Certificates.
* This equivalence applies to Union citizens, their families, and third-country nationals legally staying or residing in Member States, as per Regulations EU 2021/953 and EU 2021/954.
* Bahrain accepts vaccination, nucleic acid amplification test, and recovery certificates issued by Member States and EEA countries in accordance with Regulation EU 2021/953.
Technical Interoperability:
* Bahrain's COVID-19 certificates are interoperable with the EU Digital COVID Certificate trust framework.
* Certificates contain the data set out in the Annex to Regulation EU 2021/953.
* Bahrain issues interoperable vaccination certificates for Comirnaty, Vaxzevria, BBIBPCorV, Covaxin, COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen and Sputnik V.
* Bahrain issues interoperable test certificates for nucleic acid amplification tests.
* Bahrain issues interoperable recovery certificates valid for up to 180 days after the first positive test.
Data Protection:
* Personal data processed during certificate verification in Bahrain is solely for verifying vaccination, test, or recovery status and is not retained afterward.
Implementation and Safeguards:
* Bahrain must be connected to the EU Digital COVID Certificate trust framework.
* The Commission retains the power to suspend or repeal this decision if the conditions of Article 82 of Regulation EU 2021/953 are no longer met.
* The decision entered into force upon publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Impact Analysis:
European Union Citizens and Residents:
* Impact: Facilitated free movement within the Union with COVID-19 certificates issued by Bahrain.
* Action Required: Be aware that Bahraini COVID-19 certificates are now recognized as equivalent to the EU Digital COVID Certificate.
Kingdom of Bahrain:
* Impact: Its COVID-19 certificates are recognized within the EU, facilitating travel for its citizens.
* Action Required: Maintain connection to the EU Digital COVID Certificate trust framework.
European Commission:
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring and potentially suspending or repealing the decision if necessary.
* Action Required: Ensure Bahrain remains connected to the EU Digital COVID Certificate trust framework and monitor compliance with Regulation EU 2021/953.
Member States:
* Impact: Required to accept COVID-19 certificates issued by Bahrain under the same conditions as EU Digital COVID Certificates.
* Action Required: Update systems to recognize and verify COVID-19 certificates issued by Bahrain via the BeAware Bahrain application.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Commission Implementing Decision EU 2022/1099: A decision by the European Commission establishing the equivalence of COVID-19 certificates issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain with those issued under EU Regulation 2021/953.
Kingdom of Bahrain: A country in the Middle East whose COVID-19 certificates are recognized as equivalent to the EU Digital COVID Certificate under this decision.
Regulation EU 2021/953: A regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a framework for the issuance, verification, and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test, and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate).
Regulation EU 2021/954: A regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates EU Digital COVID Certificate with regard to third country nationals legally staying or residing in the territories of Member States during the COVID19 pandemic.
EU Digital COVID Certificate: The European Union's digital certificate for COVID-19 vaccination, test, and recovery status, designed to facilitate free movement within the Union during the pandemic.
BeAware Bahrain application: The system used by the Kingdom of Bahrain for issuing interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates.
Ursula VON DER LEYEN: The President of the European Commission, who signed the decision.
1.7.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 176/73
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2022/1099
of 30 June 2022
establishing the equivalence, for the purpose of facilitating the right of free movement within the
Union, of COVID-19 certificates issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain to the certificates issued in
accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/953 of the European Parliament and of the Council
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/953 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2021 on a
framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery
certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic(1), and in particular
Article 8(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(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 are 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, test and recovery certificates issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain 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, test and recovery certificates issued by the Kingdom of
Bahrain 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 17 February 2022the Kingdom of Bahrain provided the Commission with detailed information on the issuance
of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates under the system entitled ‘BeAware Bahrain
application’. The Kingdom of Bahrain 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 Kingdom of Bahrain informed the Commission that COVID-19
vaccination, test and recovery certificates issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain in accordance with the ‘BeAware
Bahrain application’ system contain the data set out in the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2021/953.
(1) OJ L 211, 15.6.2021, p. 1.
(2) Regulation (EU) 2021/954 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2021 on a framework for the issuance,
verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) with
regard to third country nationals legally staying or residing in the territories of Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic
(OJ L 211, 15.6.2021, p. 24).L 176/74 EN Official Journal of the European Union 1.7.2022
(4) The Kingdom of Bahrain also informed the Commission that it accepts vaccination, nucleic acid amplification test
and recovery certificates issued by the Member States and EEA countries in accordance with Regulation
(EU) 2021/953.
(5) On 10 June 2022, following a request by the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Commission carried out technical tests that
demonstrated that the COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain are in
accordance with the ‘BeAware Bahrain application’ system 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, test and recovery certificates issued by
the Kingdom of Bahrain in accordance with the ‘BeAware Bahrain application’ system contain the necessary data.
(6) In addition, the Kingdom of Bahrain informed the Commission that it issues interoperable vaccination certificates for
COVID-19 vaccines. Those vaccines currently include Comirnaty, Vaxzevria, BBIBP-CorV, Covaxin, COVID-19
Vaccine Janssen and Sputnik V.
(7) The Kingdom of Bahrain also informed the Commission that it issues interoperable test certificates for nucleic acid
amplification tests, but not for rapid antigen tests.
(8) Furthermore, the Kingdom of Bahrain 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.
(9) In addition, the Kingdom of Bahrain informed the Commission that when verifiers in Bahrain 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.
(10) The necessary elements for establishing that COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates issued by the
Kingdom of Bahrain in accordance with the ‘BeAware Bahrain application’ system are to be considered as equivalent
to those issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/953 are thus fulfilled.
(11) Therefore, COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain in accordance
with the ‘BeAware Bahrain application’ system should be accepted under the conditions referred to in Article 5(5),
Article 6(5) and Article 7(8) of Regulation (EU) 2021/953.
(12) In order for this Decision to be operational, the Kingdom of Bahrain should be connected to the EU Digital COVID
Certificate trust framework established by Regulation (EU) 2021/953.
(13) In order to protect the Union’s interests, in particular in the area of public health, the Commission may use its
powers to suspend application of this Decision or repeal it, if the conditions of Article 8(2) of Regulation
(EU) 2021/953 are no longer met.
(14) In order to connect the Kingdom of Bahrain 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.
(15) 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,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain in accordance with the ‘BeAware
Bahrain application’ system ‘shall, for the purpose of facilitating the right of free movement within the Union, be
considered as equivalent to those issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/953.1.7.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 176/75
Article 2
The Kingdom of Bahrain shall be connected to the EU Digital COVID Certificate trust framework established by Regulation
(EU) 2021/953.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 30 June 2022.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN