Germany will open its borders with France, Switzerland and Austria from June 15 after it imposed restrictions two months ago to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said business trips and family visits across its French, Austrian and Swiss frontiers would begin from Friday, with random spot checks in place, before total freedom of movement by mid-June.
In addition the EU’s economic powerhouse said there will be no extension of border controls with Luxembourg, which expire on Friday, and that it was working to agree an end to restrictions with Denmark.
Germany has successfully flattened its coronavirus infection curve, recording another 798 cases on Wednesday compared to 933 yesterday. It added another 101 deaths to its toll of 7,634, down from 116 deaths the day before.
Police officers wearing face masks work at a checkpoint on the border between Germany and Austria in Bad Reichenhall, southern Germany, on April 23
Germany recorded another 798 cases on Wednesday, compared to 933 new cases the previous day
Germany recorded another 101 deaths on Wednesday, compared to 116 deaths the day before
However, Seehofer said the end of restrictions by mid-June was dependent on the virus remaining under control and added, ‘A lot can change in four weeks.’
There is no change to its arrangements at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Belgium and the Netherlands. However, checks at these frontiers have not been federally mandated and are managed by Germany’s individual states.
Seehofer said that travel from non-EU countries such as the United States and Russia would remain restricted until at least June 15.
Germany still has a warning in force until mid-June against taking foreign holidays despite the easing of regulations among European partners.
Seehofer said the agreements on loosening the measures had been reached in bilateral talks this week and appealed to the ‘European Spirit’ as he expressed hopes that the rest of the EU might soon follow suit.
Neighbouring Austria, which has been similarly keen to reopen its borders, recorded 49 new cases yesterday, down from 59 on Monday. It has a total death toll of just 623.
‘From June 15, the opening of the border between Germany and Austria will be possible,’ Austria’s Tourism Minister Elisabeth Koestinger told state radio station O1. However, she added that from Friday business and family trips will be possible.
The German and Austrian chancellors, Angela Merkel and Sebastian Kurz spoke Tuesday and ‘agreed on a gradual opening of the border’, the minister said.
The Austrian and German chancellors, Sebastian Kurz (left) and Angela Merkel, spoke Tuesday and ‘agreed on a gradual opening’ of the border’, the minister said.
Both nations consider they have the virus under control and were among the first in Europe to start lifting the measures taken to halt the spread of the pandemic.
Tourism accounts for about eight percent of Austria’s economic output and Germany is the biggest source of foreign visitors.
Kurz is also pushing for opening borders with other countries that have similarly low infection rates. These include Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia.
With the tourism sector reeling, the European Commission was today set to urge EU countries to gradually reopen shuttered internal borders and to treat each member state according to the same criteria.
However, Austria – which shares a 251 mile border with Italy – has not signalled any intention to treat its pandemic-battered neighbour with the same graces it is proffering to the Germans.
A worker removes extra chairs at the ‘Orient Accident’ restaurant at Naschmarkt market in Vienna, Austria on May 12, 2020 a few days before restaurants, cafes and bars reopen
German travel giant TUI said today it planned to slash 8,000 jobs in a bid to cut costs as the industry struggles to stay afloat.
TUI reported a net loss of 763.6 million euros for its second quarter to March.
‘We are targeting to permanently reduce our overhead cost base by 30 percent across the entire Group,’ said TUI of the cuts affecting one in ten jobs.
‘This will have an impact on potentially 8,000 roles globally that will either not be recruited or reduced.’
The CEO of German TUI Group Friedrich Joussen speaks during the annual general meeting of TUI Group in Hanover, northern Germany
To halt transmission of the coronavirus, many countries have slammed borders shut and banned tourism, leaving planes grounded and cruise ships idle at ports while hotels are left empty.
To survive the crisis, TUI had sought a lifeline from the government, signing a deal in early April for a 1.8 billion euros state-guaranteed loan to keep it afloat.
It is one of the biggest examples of German companies making use of a huge government rescue package aimed at cushioning the impact of the pandemic on Europe’s top economy.
The German government has promised ‘unlimited’ credit to help companies weather the coronavirus storm.