Germany to Start Easing Border Controls

German border police officers stop cars in a checkpoint of the D87 road at the German-French border during the CCP virus crisis near Rastatt, Germany, on May 8, 2020. Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images

BERLIN—Starting Saturday, Germany will start to relax some border controls introduced in March to slow the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus with the aim of having free travel in Europe from mid-June, Interior Minster Horst Seehofer said on Wednesday.

The tentative step, aimed partly at helping the tourism sector, comes as the European Commission prepares to urge a return to “unrestricted free movement,” though that push will stop if there is a major second wave of infections.

Germany introduced lockdowns in mid-March, early in the outbreak, and has managed to keep the death rate per capita relatively low compared to many of its European neighbors.

Travel agency workers demonstrate close to Berlin's landmark the Brandenburg Gate in order to point to the economic plight of the touristic sector, claiming for rescue packages to save jobs amid the CCP virus pandemic, Berlin, Germany, on May 13, 2020. Odd Andersen/ AFP via Getty Images

Seehofer said that blanket border controls agreed with France, Switzerland, and Austria due to end on May 15 would be extended to June 15, but as many crossings as possible would be reopened and systematic checks would give way to spot checks.

“The goal is that from mid-June we want to have free travel in Europe,” he said, adding that controls could be re-imposed if there are new outbreaks.

Earlier, Austria said its border with Germany would fully reopen in a month. The Alpine country has been lobbying Germany hard to reopen the border, not least to boost its important tourism industry.

Germany’s border with Luxembourg can be completely opened and Seehofer said he was also ready to reopen crossings to Denmark starting May 15 but that no formal agreement had been reached yet.

Earlier, Austria said its border with Germany would fully reopen in a month. The Alpine country has been lobbying Germany hard to reopen the border, not least to boost its important tourism industry.

Germany’s border with Luxembourg can be completely opened and Seehofer said he was also ready to reopen crossings to Denmark from May 15 but that no formal agreement had been reached yet.

People past walking a sign in a shopping street that shows 'Show love - Keep distance' in Cologne, Germany, on May 12, 2020. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Controls at the EU’s external borders will remain until June 15, said Seehofer, adding it was too early to ease controls with Italy and that he would have big problems allowing travel to the United States. Both have been hard hit by the crisis.

However, he said he could imagine that people in safe parts of China could re-enter Germany after June 15.

In an indication of the toll the pandemic is having on the travel sector, tour operator TUI said earlier it needs to reduce its fixed cost base by 30 percent and cut thousands of jobs in response to the crisis.

By Michelle Martin and Thomas Escritt and Francois Murphy in Vienna

NTD staff contributed to this report.