Month: February 2022

 

EU Digital COVID Certificate Acceptance Period

Acceptance period of 270 days for vaccination certificates starts tomorrow.

As of tomorrow, 1 February, the new rules start applying on a standard acceptance period of 270 days for EU Digital COVID vaccination certificates used for travel within the EU. In line with the new rules, set out in the Commission’s Delegated Act of 21 December 2021, Member States must accept vaccination certificates for a period of 270 days (9 months) since the completion of the primary vaccination series.

For a single-dose vaccine, this means 270 days from the first and only shot. For a two-dose vaccine, it means 270 days from the second shot or, in line with the national vaccination strategy, the first and only shot after having recovered from the virus. Member States should not provide for a different acceptance period for the purposes of travel within the European Union. The standard acceptance period does not apply to certificates for booster doses.

PLEASE NOTE THIS DOES NOT AFFECT THE RULES FOR TRAVELLERS ARRIVING INTO PORTUGAL. A NEGATIVE TEST IS STILL REQUIRED OR RECOVERY CERTIFICATE.

Full information here: https://ec.europa.eu/com…/presscorner/detail/en/MEX_22_685

 

SOCIALIST PARTY WITH MAJORITY WIN IN YESTERDAY’S SNAP ELECTION

Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa won Portugal’s general election and will now have an absolute majority in parliament.

The result, boosted by a higher than expected turnout despite the coronavirus pandemic, comes as a surprise after the pre-election’s opinion polls, and means Portugal will have a stable government for the next 4 years.

The center-left Socialists took about 42% of the vote and increased the number of seats held in the 230-seat chamber to at least 117 from 108, based on 99% of voting districts reporting, according to the government’s election results website.

The final results will be announced after the counting of the votes coming from the consulates, where Portuguese living abroad have voted.

Now the President of the Republic will appoint António Costa as Prime Minister, who will form his Executive of Ministers and Secretaries of State – which must be accepted by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa – and after a Government program has to be discussed in the Parliament.

The new Executive should take office approximately two to three weeks after the elections, that is, in the second half of February.