Germany to lift border controls

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announced on Wednesday that Germany would lift border controls — implemented three months ago after the coronavirus pandemic outbreak — on June 15.

Controls along Germany’s land borders with Switzerland, France, Austria, and Denmark will be lifted Monday, Seehofer said, adding that the government would reconsider its plans if the COVID-19 situation worsens.

From June 16, EU citizens and Swiss nationals can enter Germany again unhindered, without controls and without quarantine regulations, according to the federal government’s decision.

The decision is with a few exceptions. For example, controls for foreigners arriving by plane from Spain will not end until June 21.

Since mid-March, citizens and residents of other EU member states were only permitted to travel into Germany if they met specific requirements, such as traveling for work.

Quarantine orders will also largely be lifted, although each of Germany’s 16 states can determine its own quarantine regulations.

• Hungary, Germany lift travel restrictions on each other’s citizens

Source: Xinhua