May 2, 2020 - Schengen Visa

The Minister of Interior of France, Christophe Castaner, has recently shown reluctance to reopen borders and lessen security measures among the COVID-19 pandemic. This reluctance has specifically been shown in regard to the Schengen Borderless Area.

“For the time being, I believe, and it is the will of the President of the Republic, that we should not open the Schengen area at a pan-European level in the medium term,” Castaner told BFMTV.

Castaner has also named specific countries in his concern over the further spread of COVID-19.

“We must maintain controls between France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and our neighbouring countries,” Castaner said.

The French MIA has shown a great deal of concern over a second wave of infections. He has stated that the opening of borders should only come after a consensus among experts that it would be safe and advisable to open up internal borders and begin to resume business as usual within Europe. He also mentioned the beginning of Summer being too soon to come-and-go freely across Schengen Borders.

“All border-opening decisions must be based on studies of the situation in neighboring countries. We must also consider those who work in one country but live in another. I think it will be difficult to leave the Schengen Area before the Summer. It has to be done in a way that is good for everyone,” Castaner said.

Minister Castaner has also explicitly sited the need to account to cross-border workers who live in a different country than their place of employment, saying that in the event of a reopen or remaining closing, we need “to take into account those who live in one country and work in another.”

France was among the last of European countries to implement any sort of border measures to contain COVID-19, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying that a temporary closing of Schengen Borders would be “the death of Schengen.”

In mid-April, however, France along with several other countries extended their border control measures until Fall due to COVID-19 containment measures and national security due to terrorism threats. The Date as of now for France is 30 October 2020, but this is subject to change.

The European Union is now working on an exit strategy that will allow the gradual re-opening of the EU and Schengen Area. This plan will include everything from flights to businesses and public gatherings finally being back to normal.

According to ‘Communication- the European roadmap to lifting coronavirus containment measures,’ the process of reopening should be gradual, and could be implemented as soon as mid-May.

“Probably by mid-May we can put forward the strategy we’re working on,” said EU Transport Commissioner Adina Valean.

The European Commission has already proposed more flexibility on existing rules on airlines. Internal and external borders should be opening up soon, and the travel restrictions that have been set in place by most EU and Schengen countries will eventually start to relax.

Although this is set to potentially happen very soon, the main concern for EU leadership is public health and safety to avoid another large outbreak of COVID-19. This is a particular area of concern for leaders in charge of transport and travel.

“I know for a fact this health crisis is here to stay for a long time until we can find a good treatment or vaccine… I think the measures proven to be efficient, like social distancing, are going to be respected one way or another. For transport, this is very important,” said Transport Commissioner Valean.

All EU and Schengen countries have enacted some form of flight restrictions with the exception of Denmark and Ireland, who have not enacted any flight restrictions.

All health risks taken into account, the economic ramifications of such a large-scale emergency shutdown have been substantial. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen pointed out that the roadmap for an exit strategy is both about protecting public health as well as protecting the financial interests of Europeans.

“Saving lives and protecting Europeans from the coronavirus is our number one priority. At the same time, it is time to look ahead and to focus on protecting livelihoods,” von der Leyen said.

The EC has emphasized that the gradual implementation of an exit strategy should only be done once the spread of COVID-19 has stabilized, and when there are sufficient medical resources to be allocated to any new infections that could occur.

Timing is also a key part of the roadmap, and it details the fact that any relaxation of containment measures will lead to an increase in new cases until a vaccine is produced and distributed, but that it is a necessary measure that should be taken only once medical facilities and staff are fully prepared to handle an increase in the number of cases.

“It is widely understood among epidemiological experts that even with confinement measures the virus continues circulating and any level of gradual relaxation of the confinement will unavoidably lead to a corresponding increase in new cases. This will require constant and detailed monitoring as well as the readiness to adjust and reintroduce new measures if needed,” read the road map.

It is still not explicitly known when all will return to normal.

French MIA Reluctant to Open Schengen Borders

EC Details Road Map for COVID-19 Exit Strategy

EU Commission Outlines Path to a More Robust Schengen Area

Which Country Will Join Schengen in 2024

What is the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum?