Confusion at French-German border over reopening date
The EU wants a coordinated reopening of borders, but it seems that for 24 hours the France-Germany border will only be open one way.
From Monday, June 15th, the majority of European countries will be reopening their borders and lifting the restrictions that had been in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.
READ ALSO France will reopen its borders for European travel on June 15th
But the border between France and Germany seems to be the source of some confusion over the reopening date - with traffic going one way only for the first 24 hours.
The French government has confirmed that it will be reopening its borders from midnight on June 15th - ie overnight Sunday/Monday.
A joint statement from France's Interior Minister Christophe Castaner and Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: "France will lift on the morning of June 15th (00h00) all restrictions on movement at its internal European borders (land, air and sea) put in place to combat the Covid-19 pandemic."
But the German foreign ministry on Friday confirmed to The Local that border restrictions along the French border would end on Monday night at midnight.
READ ALSO Germany set to lift land border checks late on Monday
Therefore on Monday, people will be allowed to enter France from Germany, but anyone wanting to enter Germany from France will still face border restrictions.
Germany was one of the first countries in Europe to confirm that it would be reopening borders on June 15th, while France said only that it "aimed" to do so, until the official confirmation on Friday.
According to German media reports, the reopening of the French German border was pushed back to allow for a delay from the French.
Local politicians on both sides of the border have called for clarity on the arrangements.
MP for the Bas-Rhin département Antoine Herth told France bleu radio: "One gets the impression that there is a lack of consultation between the German and French authorities, which has been the rule since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis."
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From Monday, June 15th, the majority of European countries will be reopening their borders and lifting the restrictions that had been in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.
READ ALSO France will reopen its borders for European travel on June 15th
But the border between France and Germany seems to be the source of some confusion over the reopening date - with traffic going one way only for the first 24 hours.
The French government has confirmed that it will be reopening its borders from midnight on June 15th - ie overnight Sunday/Monday.
A joint statement from France's Interior Minister Christophe Castaner and Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: "France will lift on the morning of June 15th (00h00) all restrictions on movement at its internal European borders (land, air and sea) put in place to combat the Covid-19 pandemic."
But the German foreign ministry on Friday confirmed to The Local that border restrictions along the French border would end on Monday night at midnight.
READ ALSO Germany set to lift land border checks late on Monday
Therefore on Monday, people will be allowed to enter France from Germany, but anyone wanting to enter Germany from France will still face border restrictions.
Germany was one of the first countries in Europe to confirm that it would be reopening borders on June 15th, while France said only that it "aimed" to do so, until the official confirmation on Friday.
According to German media reports, the reopening of the French German border was pushed back to allow for a delay from the French.
Local politicians on both sides of the border have called for clarity on the arrangements.
MP for the Bas-Rhin département Antoine Herth told France bleu radio: "One gets the impression that there is a lack of consultation between the German and French authorities, which has been the rule since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis."
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