The Ministers for European Affairs of the Member States, meeting on 23 February in a ‘General Affairs’ videoconference, discussed free movement in the EU and measures restricting internal borders in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, after the Commission invited them to coordinate and to avoid unilateral measures.
It was the Commission that asked the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council to put this topic on its agenda. On Monday 22 February, the Commission wrote to six Member States specifically asking them to explain their measures, which it considers much “stricter”, or even disproportionate, than those set out in the 29 January recommendation (see EUROPE 12647/3) on restrictions on non-essential travel.
The Commission has asked Belgium, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Hungary, and Sweden to explain these restrictions within 10 days. These range from outright bans on leaving the country for Belgium, to stricter internal border control measures - including for border residents and key workers, who may be subject to tests - planned by Berlin with Austria and the Czech Republic.
“Non-essential travel must be restricted, limited, but the free movement of goods and services and the full functioning of the internal market must also be ensured by leaving the corridors open”, commented the Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Ana Paula Zacarias, at the end of the meeting of ministers.
It is clear that the pandemic makes it “ necessary to put in place certain restrictions”, but they must remain “proportionate”, said Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, calling on Member States to comply with the recommendation and to maintain “ exemptions for border workers and essential workers” such as those in the transport sector, who cannot be tested all the time and who must “remain the exception”.
The Vice-President also criticised general travel bans, which could be replaced by “more targeted measures, such as mandatory quarantines to discourage travel”.
On Tuesday morning, the German Secretary of State for European Affairs, Michael Roth, indicated that his government was in discussions with Paris about the control measures that Germany would like to apply at the Moselle border, “where there are high levels of the South African variant”, Roth explained.
France has rejected these border controls, and the two countries are trying to find a solution that will protect the German population while avoiding a total closure of the border, the Secretary of State said.
France and Germany agreed to work on a joint protocol to strengthen their respective health measures. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)