EU proposes travel certificate to help save tourism

"With this digital certificate we aim to help member states reinstate the freedom of movement in a safe, responsible and trusted manner," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.

It will show "whether the person has either been vaccinated, or has a recent negative test, or has recovered from Covid, and thus has antibodies."

The plan may however face stiff resistance from many members states, particularly over fears of discrimination against those still waiting for a vaccine.

 'Difficult' questions

Europe is trailing the United States and Britain in its vaccination campaign, with deliveries of doses delayed and some countries worried about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

According to the latest count by AFP, only 3.5 percent of the European population has been fully vaccinated.

The commission's plan is "very ambitious" with some "very difficult" questions yet to be resolved, said a senior EU diplomat.

Some member states are worried that the legal path to create the pass, which would include approval by European Parliament, will take too long, with the summer holidays just three months away.

The Commission is "working to have it done by June", Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said on Sunday.

In addition, Hungary and the Czech Republic will fight to ensure vaccines not yet approved Europe-wide, such as Russia's Sputnik V, will be part of the scheme.

In the commission's proposal, member states would decide which vaccines to recognise.

Finally, some will be wary of Brussels using the Covid crisis to grab power from national governments, with civil liberties under threat.

Health matters in Europe have traditionally remained a national matter.

"Vaccination can't be the only way to unlock all sorts of freedoms when there are people who can't or won't get vaccinated -– often through no fault of their own," said Israel Butler of the Civil Liberties Union for Europe.