Discussions are underway on a possible extension of the closure of the European Union's external borders beyond Easter, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday 3 April.

Given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, EU member states unanimously approved on March 17 a 30-day ban on the entry of people outside the bloc.

>> Read: Coronavirus: more than a million patients worldwide

"We are in the process of consulting all the Member States to decide after Easter what to do next," said Ursula von der Leyen on Europe 1. "This has been a measure very well received by the Member States, all world has understood the need. "

"An economic response, a powerful response"

"It is a very bad idea anyway to make superfluous trips, to go to the European Union if it is not necessary," she continued. The objective of this measure "was to prevent people who do not live in the European Union from coming to seek treatment in Europe when the health system is completely saturated," said Ursula von der Leyen.

To read >> The "corona bonds", a new standard of solidarity at the time of Covid-19?

The President of the European Commission also returned to the establishment of a temporary financial instrument of 100 billion euros to guarantee the sustainability of partial unemployment plans within the European Union. "I believe it is essential that we rely today on a European budget, which is a strong response to the coronavirus and a kind of Marshall plan to secure our future," she said. He added that the EU was planning "an economic response, a powerful response".

With Reuters

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