The European Union's top official on Monday proposed a 30-day ban on anyone entering the bloc unless their travel is essential, to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, while insisting on the need to keep the internal borders between the 27 member states open as much as possible. Speaking after
1 / 7Belgium EU Virus OutbreakEuropean Council President Charles Michel, right, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, arrive to address a nearly empty press theatre after a video-conference with G7 leaders at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, March 16, 2020.
After the surge of COVID-19 cases in Europe led the Italian government to put the country on lockdown, other member states have implemented drastic measures and travel restrictions, including partially closing their borders. “It imposes major economic costs on the EU as a whole and prevents goods from reaching where they are needed," he said.
The EU is urging its members to put common health screening procedures in place at their borders to limit the spread of the virus, but not to block the transport of important medical equipment. Jon Worth, a visiting lecturer at the College of Europe in Bruges, said he was not surprised that member states decided to restrict the movement of people at their borders given that health care is a matter of national responsibility in the EU.
“Essential goods and medicines must be able to cross borders as smoothly as possible. This is a time for solidarity and cooperation,” EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides tweeted, after hosting a separate virtual meeting of the bloc’s health ministers Monday.
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