The Austrian government of Sebastian Kurz notified the Commission, on Wednesday 11 March, of the re-establishment of temporary checks at the internal Schengen borders in connection with the coronavirus. These checks will take place at the border with Italy, as only persons coming from Italy with a health certificate attesting non-contamination with the virus can travel to Austria.
According to the Commission, no Member State "has, at this stage, notified" such checks, it said in midday, but the Austrian letter was expected, according to one source. The Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU confirmed that this letter had gone out. These checks at the Brenner Pass at the border with Italy are justified under Article 28 of the Schengen Code. They are based on 10-day checks, renewable for two months.
For their part, the Hungarian and Maltese governments also announced exceptional measures on 11 March, with entry bans on EU citizens such as Italians, but also French and Germans in Malta. Hungarian nationals returning from at-risk countries will be quarantined, said Budapest, which has declared a state of emergency. The Commission also held the third videoconference with the Schengen member and associated countries on Wednesday morning. The countries presented the measures taken at border points to identify high-risk passengers, take their temperature and inform travellers. The next videoconference will take place on 18 March.
On Friday 13 March, a discussion will take place among EU interior ministers meeting in Brussels on these internal border check measures permitted under the Schengen Code, with health being a criterion that may justify checks in the same way as public order disturbances or threats to internal security.
The aim of the discussion will be to call on the Member States to coordinate if they plan to carry out checks on individuals. On Wednesday evening this meeting was maintained despite the COVID-19 outbreak, but, according to one source, several delegations had expressed their wish for it to be held by videoconference. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)