Giuseppe Conte with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez

  • From 3 June quarantine stop for Schengen citizens entering Italy

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June 05, 2020

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have written a letter to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen asking that border controls between EU countries be eliminated as soon as possible, and that this should happen "in a coordinated, non-discriminatory way and based on clear and transparent epidemiological criteria".

For Conte and Sanchez "freedom of movement is a fundamental element of the European project". According to the two premieres "it is necessary to establish common health criteria throughout the EU for transport, with protocols agreed between all countries". Furthermore, "many of our Member States - Conte and Sanchez write - are approaching the date decided for the reopening of their borders to tourism mobility. How our process will be completed will depend on the perception that our citizens will have of the central role of the European Union in all this crisis ".

Johansson: "Full operation of Schengen by the end of the month"
"I believe that we will return to full operation of the Schengen area no later than the end of June". This was stated by EU Commissioner for the Interior, Ylva Johansson, at the end of the videoconference of the European interior ministers. The Commissioner stressed that for many countries restrictions on internal EU movements will be lifted as early as June 15, but some "say they are not ready to do so" and that they need to further evaluate the epidemiological situation. 

European interior ministers reached a "global agreement" on the request to extend the closure of the EU's external borders until the end of June , a measure that otherwise would expire on 15 June. The Croatian presidency announced this after the videoconference of the European interior ministers. "We are working on a communication that will be approved next week," said EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson

. There is "strong pressure in Malta due to the arrival of irregular migrants. It is a small country that really needs our support and solidarity. Today I still encourage ministers to consider helping Malta by relocating over 400 migrants who are now on board ships outside Maltese territorial waters. " This is the appeal launched by the European Commissioner for the Interior, Ylva Johansson, who intends to contact all the Member States next week.

The Swiss opens on 15 June its borders to Italy and to all other EU states and EFTA. At first, free movement was foreseen only to Austria, Germany and France. The Swiss Federal Council justifies this measure with good epidemiological progress.