The European Union on Thursday launched it free Digital Covid Certificate system designed to help EU citizens travel more freely across the 27-nation bloc and open up summer tourism.

The EU Digital Covid Certificate, available in digital or paper-based format, takes the form of a QR-code, which indicates if a traveller has received been fully vaccinated, has received a recent negative test result or has immunity due to recent recovery from a Covid-19 infection.

President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The European Union is delivering for its citizens.

“The European Digital COVID Certificate is a symbol of an open and safe Europe that is opening cautiously putting the protection of the health of our citizens first.

“In March, we promised to have an EU-wide system to facilitate free and safe travel within the EU by the summer holidays.

“Now we can confirm that the EU Digital COVID Certificate system is up and running.

“A vast majority of EU Member States are already connected to the system and ready to issue and verify the Certificates.

“More than 200 million certificates have already been generated.

“We are helping Europeans get back the freedom they value and cherish so much.”