30.05.2021 – 22:27
Greece has become the first country in the European Union to issue a European vaccination passport. It will enable the free movement of all European citizens, but so far the neighboring country has not given any signal that it will accept or recognize Albanian vaccination passports. Every citizen vaccinated with two doses in our country, or any citizen who has passed Covid-19 in the last six months, can be provided with a vaccination passport by downloading it from eAlbania. But so far, none of the EU member states has stated whether it will accept vaccinated with the Russian and Chinese vaccine, with which Albania started mass vaccination.
Greece, like other member states, has not yet opened its borders to Albanian tourists, and the issuance of vaccination passports by official Athens does not seem to have changed that. The day before, the Greek embassy in Tirana announced that the restrictive measures for the movement of Albanian citizens in the direction of Greece will remain unchanged until May 31. The border has been closed for months, with the only change being that these days the Kapshtica border crossing point was opened on a part-time basis where only seasonal workers are allowed to enter Greece.
Meanwhile, only Kakavija remains open with a limited number of 750 people per day, as it is expected to see what will happen in June with these restrictive measures.
The Greek government on Friday released the first format of EU vaccination passports, which were described by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakkis as “a fast way to allow travel”, stressing that the joint electronic certificate would be recognized by all countries. EU member states.
During the presentation of this passport in Athens, Mitsotaqis promised that the provision of vaccination passports will allow the return to normalcy of the tourist season and has promised that they will be ready starting in June. But in his presentation, Mitsotakis did not mention tourists from outside the union at any point, although he has signed agreements with Serbia and Russia for the reception of tourists.
“This step is especially important for Greece as a tourist country, but I think that any country can benefit from them and allow freedom of movement. “This document includes all the information that a member state will have to have to welcome a traveler without imposing additional measures such as vaccination tests, COVID tests, or quarantine,” said the Greek Prime Minister.
The Greek Prime Minister also said that passports can be obtained by foreign nationals residing in Greece and other EU countries and with their receipt, will be able to travel freely as well as before the outbreak of the pandemic.
But from official Athens there is still no signal whether tourists from outside the union will be accepted, not only those from Albania and the Balkans who have been vaccinated with Russian or Chinese vaccines, but also those from the UK. If the neighboring country were to receive these tourists, it would either have to recognize their vaccination passports, or provide them with a pass, indicating the type of vaccine with which they were vaccinated.
Greek newspaper Ekathimerini writes that next week will be crucial in Greece’s efforts to facilitate travel from outside the union, as the UK and Russia are pushing for tourist reception.
However, according to reports, by the middle of next week Greece is likely to reconsider opening its borders with some countries, placing them on its “green” list and lifting quarantine for visitors.
Also in the middle of next week, Alternative Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis is expected to hold a teleconference on the recognition of the Russian vaccine with Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev, in order to seal the date for the opening of the borders between the two countries.
“Given the high demand from potential Russian visitors to Greek destinations and the recognition by the Greek government of Russian vaccines, the easing of rules for travelers from Russia is expected to take place next week,” Ekathimerini wrote.
