Covid-19: Germany aims to reopen its borders in mid-June

Restrictions on movement at Germany's borders will not be lifted until mid-June, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announced on Wednesday 13 May.

Germany, as well as its French, Austrian and Swiss neighbors, have "the clear objective of a return to free movement in Europe from mid-June", provided that the coronavirus pandemic remains under control , he said at a press conference.

These countries have agreed to extend the existing restrictions for a further month, starting on May 16, but with some relaxation. The controls will no longer be systematic, he stressed.

"We are keeping traffic restrictions # Covid19 together until June 15, with easing measures to make everyday life easier for cross-border commuters," confirmed Christophe Castaner, the French interior minister, on his Twitter account.

🇩🇪 and 🇫🇷 are advancing in a coordinated way for border controls: following my interview with Horst Seehofer yesterday, we are keeping traffic restrictions # COVID19 together until June 15, with flexibility to make everyday life easier for border residents.

The border with Luxembourg will be completely reopened on Saturday, said the German Minister of the Interior, while declaring "confident" to reach a solution with Denmark in the coming days.

Reopening requests 

Germany had established border controls with some of its neighbors in mid-March to contain the spread of the virus. Only frontier workers or food transport workers were allowed to pass; private visits were prohibited.

Requests for a rapid reopening of borders have multiplied in recent days in Germany, faced with the slowdown in Covid-19 infections which has led countries to begin their deconfinement. Austria and Luxembourg had also launched calls to this effect.

Germany has also issued a warning on tourist trips abroad until mid-June. "For Europe, it will surely be possible to lift the warning on travel earlier than for other destinations," Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement.

In Brussels, the European Commission is preparing to present recommendations on Wednesday to save the summer season of the tourism sector, severely impacted by the coronavirus crisis, prompting European states to gradually reopen the internal borders.

With AFP and Reuters

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