The European Union is set to unveil a vaccine passport scheme to allow free travel in the summer and support the bloc's struggling tourism sector, despite disagreement between member states over the proposal.

According to the Independent, the European Commission will on Wednesday propose a "digital green certificate" that would combine information on vaccination, COVID-19 tests and recovery to allow people to take flights and cross borders within the bloc.

The proposal will need to be approved by the European Parliament and member states.

Some countries have welcomed the proposal, seeing it as a needed factor in boosting tourism in the pandemic era, while others have warned against discriminating against people who refuse or cannot get vaccinated.

(With input from agencies)