The past 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 systems also work 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 the easing travel only for inoculated people would be unfair.