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VHorst Seehofer didn’t want to know anything about going alone on Wednesday. “It is European to fight together against a dangerous virus. It is not European to avoid shared responsibility for uncomfortable measures, “said the Federal Minister of the Interior. The border controls he ordered in mid-March have become a bit awkward for Seehofer, not only from France, but also from his sister CDU party, which had come under heavy criticism.
But for Seehofer, travel restrictions have made a significant contribution to the previous success in fighting the virus and remain a necessary means for the time being. “It could not be responsible for the complete lifting of controls,” Seehofer said. For this reason, border controls with France, Switzerland and Austria will run until June 15, albeit with relief. The decision, Seehofer emphasized several times at the press conference, was made in agreement with the three countries. “It is surprising how we always agree,” was his conclusion from the conversation with French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner. It is not about “vanities”, “we want to solve a problem”.
Samples only
For residents of the border regions with France, Austria and Switzerland, things will be much easier starting on Saturday, because then all the border crossing points will reopen. Since controls began in mid-March, many crossings were closed and travelers had to make long detours. Furthermore, the federal police should no longer systematically detain all passers-by and verify whether they can demonstrate that it is a “valid reason” for entry. The samples should be sufficient, with the federal police acting in coordination with the police authorities of neighboring countries. Seehofer also wants to facilitate travel for family or personal reasons.
These are couples without a marriage license, some of whom have had difficulty visiting each other in the past. However, since it is not possible to regulate each case in detail, one has to act “skillfully” at the border, Seehofer said. “Our federal police have that, I am proud of it.” Controls at the border section to Luxembourg will cease to exist on Saturday, and the federal police will be limited to monitoring searches in the border area. Controls can also be stopped at the Danish border, Seehofer says, and the date will be set together with Copenhagen as soon as the government has finished consultations with neighboring countries.
Relief with reservations
The goal is to standardize cross-border traffic, “that’s also the European idea,” Seehofer said. On June 15, federal police officers will withdraw from border crossings, “as long as the infection process allows it.” If, on the other hand, the situation worsens and the number of new infections rises above the standard value of 50 per 100,000 population in seven days, the relief could be withdrawn again or controls would be extended beyond mid-June. For the time being, the world travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office will also apply until mid-June. EU citizens will no longer have to be quarantined for two weeks after their entry, at least that is the recommendation of the Federal Interior Minister on Saturday.
