Brussels pushes for border reopening

Text by: RFI Follow

Member States have difficulty coordinating on the reopening of their borders in the Schengen area. Latest example to date, Belgium, which announced Friday the reopening of its borders with neighboring countries from the next day. However, the Franco-Belgian border remained closed.

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From our Brussels office,

Confusion on Saturday morning at the Franco-Belgian border. Several dozen motorists wishing to go to France have been blocked by the police. Motorists rather surprised.

A new decree published Saturday by the Belgian authorities authorizes, from this day, travel to visit family members or to go shopping in the countries bordering Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Germany.

Only here, a country remains sovereign for the reopening of its borders. France continues to limit entry to its territory to essential travel. And a reopening of its internal borders to the Schengen area for European nationals is not envisaged for the moment before June 15.

Co-pedaling therefore at the end of the day from the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, this new measure is only applicable with Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands, not with France, he said. precise.

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