Entry restrictions: Seehofer rejects "admonitions" from Brussels

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Interior Minister Horst Seehofer

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via www.imago-images.de / imago images / Political-Moments

In view of new entry restrictions from the Czech Republic and Tyrol, the EU Commission has asked Germany to grant exceptions for commuters, for example.

A spokesman for the authority recalled on Friday that the EU states had only recently agreed on joint recommendations for traveling in Corona times.

Expect all countries to act accordingly.

Border closings and blanket travel bans should be avoided, the commission said.

You are therefore calling on Germany to allow exceptions at least for essential trips and for cross-border commuters.

At the same time, the spokesman emphasized that the recommendations of the EU states allowed stricter rules for areas in which virus variants are particularly widespread.

The EU Commission had asked the Portuguese Council Presidency that the coordination of travel would be an issue at the meetings of the EU Ministers for Europe on February 23.

Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer abruptly rejected the Commission's request: "Health protection has top priority - admonitions from Brussels do not help." The measures taken in Germany are effective and have slowed the infection rate.

In some neighboring states, however, a "worrying development in virus mutations" can be observed.

He "firmly rejects" the Commission's request to allow more exceptions.

The federal government will not "stand idly by as the virus mutation spills over to us."

Border controls in the heart of Europe are painful, but currently unavoidable.

Germany also coordinates all steps with its neighbors.

The federal government discussed details of the planned regulation at the borders on Friday.

On Thursday, Germany classified the Czech Republic and the state of Tyrol as virus mutation areas due to the increased occurrence of mutated corona viruses.

In addition, the Federal Ministry of the Interior ordered border controls from Sunday to enforce the transport and entry bans.

On Friday, the federal government also classified Slovakia as an area with particularly dangerous virus mutations.

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mes / dpa