Decision of the Schengen countries, Europe returns to the travel freiheitam 15. June nearly all of the border controls that were introduced during the Corona event of a crisis in the Schengen area. Switzerland, with power and opens earlier than originally in the direction of Italy is planned. Stephan Israel from Brüssel0 KommentareAb in mid-June, it is back-free travel: border crossing Chiasso-Strada.Photo: Keystone

borders is closing is easier than opening you up again. But the mess, as at the beginning of the Corona-crisis EU or Schengen countries without collusion controls to be introduced to the internal borders of the night again, you want to avoid now when you exit. Almost all of the Schengen countries, including Switzerland, want to be on 15. June coordinates cancel the entry restrictions.

The danger of a Patchwork quilt that is in the Schengen area seems to have been averted. On the occasion of a video conference of the interior Ministers of the Schengen countries, numerous interior Minister had expressed the desire to return to normality, wrote to the Federal Council on Friday in a message. The line of the Bundesrat corresponded to those of many European countries. For Switzerland, Secretary of state Mario Gattiker took part in the conference.

return to normal

New, Switzerland, on 15. June, now in the direction of Italy and all other EU States, as well as with the UK, the freedom to travel is recovering. In a first step, Switzerland, Germany, France and Austria had already agreed to open the borders to each other. Switzerland justified the return to normality within Schengen with the positive development of the epidemiological situation.

In the Schengen area, the in addition to 22 EU countries, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein belong, is prohibited in-patient controls at the internal borders in principle. After the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, almost all member States have introduced mostly unabgesprochen controls and non-essential Travel prohibited. Summer holidays on the Mediterranean or Baltic sea rails, until recently, unrealistic. Now to return to some normalcy faster than expected in good time before the start of the travel season.

Spain and Portugal as special cases

the reservations expressed in the video conference, the Minister of the interior of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. The Eastern European EU member States still hesitate with the decision, also because of the concern, a new Corona-import cases from neighbouring countries. Romania and Bulgaria are already members of the Schengen area. A special case is Spain and Portugal. The government had announced in Madrid, opening of the border unilaterally, without notice to Lisbon, and had to make it back down. Some countries were not yet ready and wanted to wait for the further development of the pandemic, said EU Commissioner for Ylva Johansson.

The Swede appeared confident, however, that in time for the holiday season, at least within Europe’s free travel applies: “I believe that by the end of June will be made the freedom to travel within the Schengen area is full again.” Both the health and the political Situation allow this. Ultimately, the decision is in the competence of each member state.

coming from third countries from July?

a little longer will it take to travel from third countries are in the Schengen area again. Many countries lock for an extension of the entry until the end of June, said Ylva Johansson. The EU Commissioner wants to make next week a proposal. At the beginning of July, the restrictions gradually could be repealed. There are, however, among the EU-States still have disagreement, what criteria will be agreed for the relaxations. The EU Commission plans to submit recommendations in that regard.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte urged in a letter to EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen, on the side of caution. An Opening of the outer boundaries should only be carried out in a coordinated manner. EU States would have to commit to a common limit in the rate of infection, from traveling from third countries could be possible.

The German interior Minister Horst Seehofer spoke of a “differentiated solution”, depending on the Coronavirus situation in the country of origin of the traveller. He named countries such as the USA, Brazil or Russia, where the situation is much more tense than in Europe.

she is confident that at the end of June is made the freedom to travel in the Schengen space again: EU Commissioner for Ylva Johansson. Photo: Reuters comment please Login to comment