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German border controls should be relaxed in just a few days. Although border traffic to France and the south becomes easier, everything remains the same in the east.
Controls at the German border will be gradually relaxed starting this Saturday. Citizens should continue without tourist trips abroad in the coming weeks. As announced by the Federal Interior Ministry on Wednesday, the controls will initially end at the border with Luxembourg on Saturday night.
At the German-Denmark border, Germany is also ready to stop controls “as soon as the Danish government has carried out its ongoing consultations with its neighboring countries.” However, on the borders with France, Austria and Switzerland, they should continue until June 15.
According to the Interior Ministry, relief is the result of the positive development of the infection process. However, if the number of new infections in neighboring regions increases dramatically, monitoring will intensify again. The applicable guideline in Germany of more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants provides guidance in seven days. “In a crisis you have to stick together and do things in such a way that they work in practice,” explained Horst Seehofer.
Quarantine regulations are also less stringent
According to the Ministry, the 14-day quarantine ordered by the federal states for all those who come to Germany in the future should only apply to people who have previously been in third countries. For example, no longer for Germans arriving from France or the Netherlands. However, the decision on quarantine rests with the countries’ heads of state.
Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) had discussed the details of a gradual return of stationary controls to normal border surveillance in the 30-kilometer range with his counterparts in neighboring countries and with state prime ministers federal border.
Controls at the borders with Luxembourg, Denmark, France, Austria and Switzerland were introduced on March 16 to curb infection in Germany. Since then, only those who can give a valid reason for this, such as travelers, members of the medical profession, or EU citizens heading to their home country, can enter the country. Caring for family members and other family reasons could also be partially affirmed. According to the Interior Ministry, further simplifications are now planned for travel for “family and personal reasons.” This should be “uncomplicated,” says Seehofer. The rule that only those with a valid reason can enter the country should basically continue to exist.
Traffic jams and detours for travelers
As announced by the Ministry, all border crossings can be reused as of Saturday. In the past few weeks, only a few major traffic routes have been opened to cross the border. In many places, this has led to traffic jams and detours for travelers. The federal police should in the future only control “in a flexible and risk-based manner”, “not as systematically as before.”
On Wednesday, the EU Commission also wanted to present a plan for the cautious opening of internal borders in Europe. According to a draft dpa, controls will be phased out across Europe. Seehofer followed the Commission’s recommendation to extend restrictions on the entry of third countries into the EU until June 15.
A world travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office currently applies until June 14. Accordingly, Germans generally must refrain from vacationing abroad, also because a return trip can be very difficult due to Corona’s new measures.
Seehofer: “Fighting viruses together”
“It is European to fight a dangerous virus together. It is not European to avoid shared responsibility for uncomfortable measures,” Seehofer said. He had been under pressure in the past few days after calls from federal states near the border and the opposition to end controls.
