All Member States - with the sole exception of Ireland - and the Schengen free movement area countries are now applying a temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the European Union, announced Adalbert Jahnz, Commission spokesperson on Home Affairs, on Tuesday 24 March.
Linked to a common travel area with the United Kingdom, which does not wish to apply the measure, the Republic of Ireland was unable to join the initiative.
The Commission proposed this measure on 16 March (see EUROPE 12447/6), inviting the countries concerned to coordinate to collectively restrict non-essential arrivals of third-country nationals into their territories.
The majority of Member States, but also third countries in the Schengen area, such as Norway or Switzerland, subsequently indicated their willingness to apply this restriction. The subject was discussed on 17 March at the teleconference of 27 EU leaders (see EUROPE 12448/1) and also on 20 March at a teleconference of EU home affairs ministers.
On that occasion, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) announced that it would issue guidelines for border police to manage these temporary restrictions.
In terms of internal traffic within the Schengen area, 12 member countries, including 10 EU Member States, have notified of controls at their borders, with Belgium joining the list over the weekend (see EUROPE 12451A29). These checks concern in particular the borders with the Netherlands.
A further teleconference of EU home affairs ministers took place on Tuesday afternoon. It was intended to monitor the situation as blockages have been observed in recent days at certain crossing points at the internal borders of the Schengen area.
On 20 March, EU ministers reported some improvements and a willingness on the part of neighbouring countries to find pragmatic solutions to smooth traffic flows. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)