What do the proposals say? Member states will be able to accept tourists from outside the EU if they have received an approved jab, the European Commission said on Monday, although this could be extended for vaccines that have completed the World Health Organization's (WHO) emergency use listing process.
In addition, children who have not been able to receive a vaccine should be able to travel with their parents as long as they present a negative test, although further testing may be required on arrival.
Until the EU-wide pass, known as the digital green certificate, is launched, countries "should be able to accept certificates from non-EU countries based on national law", the European Commission added. This decision would include "ability to verify the authenticity, validity and integrity of the certificate and whether it contains all relevant data".
The plans will increase also the threshold number of cases in countries from which all travel is allowed - subject to quarantine or testing - from 25 infections per 100,000 people to 100. This, the proposals note, is still far below the EU average of more than 420 per 100,000.
The measures will not affect current rules on essential travel or EU citizens and long-term residents and their families.
The recommendation will cover all EU member states, apart from Ireland, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Which vaccines will be accepted? So far, the EU has approved four vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson. All require two injections for maximum protection, except for the single-dose Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The same jabs have been authorised for emergency use by the WHO, with similar approvals for China's Sinopharm and Sinovac expected in the coming days and weeks.
All three vaccines used in the UK - Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna - would therefore be covered by the new EU plans.
wftree wrote: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson. All require two injections for maximum protection, except for the single-dose Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine
WHICH VACCINES ARE APPROVED BY THE EUROPEAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION? The European Medical Association (EMA) has so far approved 4 vaccines for use in the EU:
Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNtech) Moderna Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) The additional vaccines approved for emergency use by WHO are Serum Institute of India and Sinopharm.