The European Commission is writing to the EU27 to remind them of the two recommendations on free movement in the EU during the Covid-19 pandemic and non-essential arrivals from non-Member States that Member States adopted on 29 January and 1 February (see EUROPE 12648/2, 12647/3), a source said on Tuesday 16 February.
The Commission disagrees with the Belgian measures that prohibit Belgian residents from leaving Belgium and with the German measures that closed the borders with Austria’s Tyrol region and the Czech Republic, two geographical areas considered ‘dark red’ according to the ECDC nomenclature. The European institution does not want other Member States to replicate them, which could result in the internal market being called into question.
Member States must coordinate and “continue to work together”, this source stressed.
While the Commission is not necessarily in a position to launch infringement proceedings on these measures, it has serious doubts about the proportionality of the Belgian measures, which are aimed at the whole EU, including its ‘green’ zones. Nor does it believe that launching infringements would be the right course of action at the moment.
However, these measures are highly disagreeable to economic operators. The World Road Transport Organisation (IRU), the European Association of Road Transport Operators (UETR) and CLECAT, which represents the logistics, shipping and customs services sectors, reported on Monday 15 February that there were significant disruptions in supply chains.
“In particular on the important trade route from Italy to the north via the Brenner Pass, as well as on the east-west corridors”, the IRU finds.
Following the example of the Secretary General of the UETR, Marco Digioia, these organisations regret that such measures have been taken “in total disregard” of the principles of green lanes (see EUROPE 12452/14), put in place in spring 2020 to guarantee the free circulation of goods.
“It is all the more important to keep the green lanes operational today, when essential goods such as vaccines need to be distributed quickly throughout Europe”, the Commission notes in a letter to the IRU last week on behalf of President Ursula von der Leyen.
The institution was reacting to concerns expressed by the IRU about Germany as early as January (see EUROPE 12640/3).
CLEPA, which represents European car manufacturers, warned of the risk of disruption to supply chains, citing a risk of disruption to production plants in the automotive industry. According to the association, the Covid-19 testing requirements imposed on truck drivers could undermine the effectiveness of green lanes for freight.
See the letter from the Commission: https://bit.ly/3arVW7j (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic with Agathe Cherki and Pascal Hansens)