A European Union-wide COVID certificate came into force on Thursday, as the EU aims to kick-start the summer tourism season by streamlining border crossings, according to DW.

The certificate is essentially a QR code, either on a smartphone or paper, which validates whether a traveler has been vaccinated, has recovered from a COVID infection, or has a recent negative test for COVID-19.

According to the EU, the certificate holder should “in principle be exempted from free movement restrictions,” and EU member states should “refrain from imposing additional travel restrictions” on holders “unless they are necessary and proportionate to safeguard public health.”

National authorities, such as health care facilities or test centers, are in charge of issuing the certificate, according to the EU.

The EU plans for all 27 member states to accept the certificate, a process made possible by integrating and networking public health data.

Four associated European nations (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein), are also included.

The certificate is already accepted in tourist hot spots France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia.

EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said he expected all EU member states to be connected to the certificate network starting Thursday. Only Ireland, which was hit by a cyber-attack targeting its health service in May, will be delayed.

Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency