What if travelers from other European Union (EU) member states also had to test negative for Covid-19 before being able to enter French territory?
While this measure is currently only mandatory for those coming from countries outside the EU, the government put the subject on the table this Wednesday morning during the Defense Council.
But no question of moving forward on this file alone: Emmanuel Macron has repeated it to his ministers, he wants "a pooling at European level".
As a close friend of the Head of State sums it up: "We are looking for a European consensus, we will converge on a pragmatic solution".
The question is therefore on the agenda of a European summit by videoconference scheduled for Thursday, January 21 in the late afternoon between the heads of state or government of the European Union.
France will push the idea of imposing tests on intra-European travelers at airports, train stations and ports.
"There is not yet a European consensus on rail," however, we warn the Secretary of State for European Affairs.
Motorists, on the other hand, should not be affected by this tightening, because France wants to preserve its 350,000 border workers.
“We are not going to ask them to be tested every day.
Otherwise, it will create monster traffic jams at the border, and they will no longer have nostrils!
Slips a minister.
Many countries have already taken the plunge
Will a consensus emerge easily?
"It's always difficult to say," warns a ministerial adviser.
However, many countries have already taken the plunge, without waiting for a common European position.
This is particularly the case for Italy, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Austria and Germany.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also let it be known that she is in favor of restoring controls between EU countries if the situation deteriorates.
As to the type of tests required, the question is also open.
Currently, a negative PCR is required in countries that have implemented this measure.
"The Commission pleads for recognition of antigenic tests", underlines the State Secretariat for European Affairs.
France is not opposed to it.
“We are considering a list of antigenic tests that would be recognized throughout Europe.
Today, this is not yet the case, ”thus assured Sunday on France Info the Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune.
In short, Europeans still have their work cut out for them before taking the same step forward in the face of the health crisis.