[ad_1]
In this crisis, forecasts are difficult and quickly obsolete. Just two and a half weeks ago, Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga said it was important to give the population a perspective: “Summer vacations in Switzerland are possible.” Back then, and it seems like a long time ago, this announcement was greeted with relief. Traveling abroad seemed almost unthinkable.
But now there is a new normal: shops, schools and museums are open again. Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said today that border openings to neighboring countries other than Italy would fit well into the Swiss easing schedule. And it also adapts to the mood in the country: According to the latest cell phone data, people are moving much stronger again.
Switzerland was a driving force in the effort to open the borders quickly. But even though Switzerland is a member of the Schengen, it shows once again that this small country is an applicant, the decisions are made by the big ones. Apparently Germany was highly critical last week when it came to rapid border openings, especially the influential state of Bavaria.
Germany was holding back
Keller-Sutter also expressed skepticism two weeks ago about whether Germany would soon do the same. Switzerland is a non-problematic country in the eyes of its northern neighbor due to the shared border with Italy. However, demands by the mayors of Baden-Württemberg that the situation in the highly connected border regions of Basel and Konstanz / Kreuzlingen should normalize as quickly as possible apparently has led the Berlin government to rethink.
Similar demands were also made in France from regions strongly connected to Geneva and Basel. In the end, according to Keller-Sutter, it was France that established June 15 as the opening day. And last night it was the ambitious Austrian chancellor Kurz who offered the possibility of opening the borders soon. German Interior Minister Seehofer, who officially announced the border openings today. The Swiss Federal Council was only able to confirm in the afternoon.
Question mark when starting
However, there are still ambiguities regarding the first border relief, which should be applied starting this weekend. Secretary of State Mario Gattiker today unveiled a wish list: Unmarried couples should be allowed to visit again, including family members. Second home owners must be able to enter. Here too, Germany in particular will probably decide what will and will not be possible.
Are you still staying home?
Border openings for everyone should come June 15 and end the state of being locked up at home. Summer holidays on the Baltic Sea or the Mediterranean coast are possible. As long as the contagion numbers remain low in Switzerland and neighboring countries. However, Federal Councilman Keller-Sutter called today to stay in his own country if possible. Also in solidarity with badly treated Swiss tourism, which, however, can now wait for guests from neighboring countries.
Andy Müller
Parliamentary Editor SRF
