Czech Republic Could Fully Open Internal Borders by July
Czech Republic’s borders with its EU neighbouring countries may reopen in July, as the Czech authorities are in talks with the government so Austria and Slovakia, in a bid to make such a step, the Foreign Minister of the country Tomáš PetÅ™íÄek said this week.
According to PetÅ™íÄek, while the negotiations with the Austrians and Slovaks regarding opening the borders have advanced the most, however, talks with Poland seems to be more complicated.
“As of July, I would like the borders with the four neighbouring countries, Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia, to reopen fully…To be honest, the negotiations with Austrians and Slovaks have advanced most. The talks with Poland seem to be most complicated,” he said.
As per trips to Germany, they will depend on the further development of the Coronavirus pandemic there, PetÅ™íÄek said, adding that chances for travelling to Bulgaria, Hungary as well as the Baltic states are more possible, as these countries have coped with the spread of the Coronavirus quite well, just as the Czech Republic.
“In short, I believe that as of July we may start returning to the normal functioning, not only of the Schengen area,” PetÅ™íÄek said, pointing out that if the situation develops well, the EU might go back to normal even faster.
The Minister also asserted that by August, things would be much better, as, by that time, Czechs will be able to travel to Croatia, Slovenia and Greece, and also to remoter destinations outside Europe such as Canada, Australia or Japan.
“The travelling outside Europe will also depend on the renewal of international flights,” he noted.
He declined to give a specific date when travelling to countries most hit by the pandemic would be possible, as to Italy, France, or Spain, asserting that it is premature to speak about travel to these countries now.
On March 13, the Czech Republic had first introduced its frontier checks amid COVID-19, alongside with other countries as Malta and Slovakia.
The government has decided on May 4, 2020, to prolong the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders according to Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code. Checks will continue at the common borders with Germany, Austria and all internal flights until June 13, 2020, with the possibility of prolongation.
