EU to propose vaccine certificates
In a move that could allow Europeans to book a summer holiday the European Commission is aiming to present a plan for a "digital green pass" later this month.
The pass would provide proof that a person has been vaccinated, the results of tests for those not yet vaccinated and information on recovery for people who have contracted COVID-19.
The EU executive plans to also cooperate with international organizations to ensure that its system also works beyond the European Union.
The hope is this EU-wide system would prevent separate deals being hatched between EU countries that would fragment its internal market and to avoid finding itself subject to a system set by a third country or by a tech giant.
EU leaders agreed last week to work on vaccine certificates, with southern member states such as Spain and Greece particularly keen to unlock tourism this summer.
However, it is not yet clear whether vaccinated people can still transmit the virus to others.
Some countries, such as France and Belgium, have also expressed concern that easing travel only for inoculated people would be unfair.
The Commission said it wanted to avoid any discrimination.
