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The transport of goods through the English Channel has stopped because France has closed its borders due to the new Corona variant. One idea: massive tests for truck drivers to revive freight traffic.
The British government is negotiating with France to introduce massive corona tests for truck drivers in order to be able to resume freight traffic across the English Channel.
“Evidence of one kind or another is part of the discussions that the transport minister has with his French counterpart,” British Home Secretary Priti Patel told the BBC. “The commissioning of these tests can be done relatively quickly,” added Patel. But she didn’t want to give an exact time frame for this.
The BBC had previously reported, citing French European Minister Clément Beaune, that French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had agreed on measures to reopen the border to freight traffic starting Wednesday. Therefore, the details should be announced throughout the day.
Numerous travel restrictions to the UK
A seemingly particularly contagious coronavirus mutation recently emerged in Britain, with many countries, including Germany, restricting travel to Britain. France also closed the borders to the traffic of goods.
The EU Commission apparently wants to make sure that the traffic of goods is not restricted, the German press agency learned from EU circles. In passenger transport, the recommendation remains to avoid travel as much as possible, but without border closures. Even today he wants to present his proposals to the EU states. However, these are not binding. Border closures are the responsibility of individual states.
More than 1,500 trucks are stuck
At the start of Christmas week, commuters were stuck, trucks stuck for miles in the county of Kent, in the southeast of England. According to the British Home Secretary, there are 650 vehicles on the main motorway to the port of Dover. Another 873 have been diverted to nearby Manston Airport, which is out of service.
The UK is dependent on goods being transported from Europe by truck. Many trucks bringing cargo to continental Europe from the UK return with goods. British Retail Consortium Food and Sustainability Director Andrew Opie said groceries such as lettuce, vegetables and fresh fruit could be in short supply after Christmas if border traffic is not “free enough” as of Wednesday.
Brexit deadline ends soon
The chaos coincides for the United Kingdom with great uncertainty regarding the imminent conclusion of negotiations on its trade relations with the EU. The transition period, which Britain allowed to participate in the EU internal market after leaving in January, ends on December 31.
