Relief for fans of Denmark: German tourists will soon be able to enter again. But restrictions remain. In Schleswig-Holstein there is no complete satisfaction about the decision from Copenhagen. Prime Minister Günther also wants to achieve more.
Copenhagen / Kiel (dpa) - Denmark is reopening its borders, closed in the Corona crisis, for tourists from Germany, Iceland and Norway. This was announced by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen on Friday.
Precondition: "Vacationers from the three countries have to document that they have booked a stay, that is, at least six nights in a hotel, campsite or similar," said Frederiksen. Except for the opening are the capital Copenhagen and the Frederiksberg region, where there are the most Covid 19 cases.
Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther welcomed the relief in German-Danish border traffic announced on June 15. "So shortly before the summer holidays, this step will particularly please many holidaymakers," said the CDU politician. Günther said that the state government wanted to completely abolish the corona-related entry restrictions that the Danish side would have to face after June 15th.
According to him, the federal government, after consulting the state government, has announced that border controls that still exist on the German side will cease after June 15. According to the federal police, Germany's border is still checked on a random basis.
The planned lifting of restrictions is also an important signal for the people in the border country that they are waiting for, said Günther. Now it should be examined to what extent these people will also benefit in concrete terms from the measures that have now been announced. The residents of the border country are particularly affected by the current restrictions. "The border closure from one day to the next resulted in cases of hardship that could only be endured temporarily and thanks to the solidarity of the people." On the way back to the usual freedom of movement, the state government is still available for a constructive dialogue.
Politicians from other parties in Schleswig-Holstein also made it clear that they expected more. The chairman of the Danish-oriented SSW, Flemming Meyer, spoke of a step in the right direction. Frederiksen's statement that the residents of the border region should return to normal is a positive signal. "For us, this includes crossing the border, visiting family and friends and going shopping with a merchant."
FDP parliamentary group leader Christopher Vogt called the decision expandable. "We would like to see more speed in opening up the EU's internal borders." The Federal Government is also asked here. "It's not just about summer vacation, it's about the European idea as a whole, about living together in the border regions and about the recovery of the European economy."
For the Green MEP Rasmus Andresen, the six-day rule for tourists needs explanation. "It is a sad symbol that the border region and especially the minorities on both sides of the border should continue to have no openings."
The Germans make up the largest group of tourists in Denmark with 30 percent. According to the Danish statistics office, they stood for 16.8 million overnight stays in 2019. "We are a country that is used to receiving a lot of tourists. We want to be an open country even if Corona has hit Denmark and the rest of the world," said Frederiksen. Denmark had closed its land and sea borders - including those to Germany - on March 14th for all foreigners without a valid reason for entry. In the meantime, the corona situation in the northernmost German neighboring country has improved significantly.
Corona numbers Denmark
Denmark's statistics