European Union lawmakers have approved a new coronavirus travel certificate aimed at opening the 27-nation bloc up for the summer.
The new laws approving the certificate passed in two votes — one vote for people inside the bloc, and another for people outside the bloc. Both votes easily passed. The EU regulations must now be rubber-stamped by individual countries.
At the moment, traveling across the bloc is a trial for tourists, airlines and authorities. Restrictions and regulations can differ from country to country.
But beginning on July 1, EU nations will have to recognize the vaccine certificate, which can take paper or digital form.
The passes will be issued for free and certify that a person has either been vaccinated against the virus, has recently tested negative, or has recovered from the disease.
Several EU countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Poland, had already begun using the pass.