France’s President Emmanuel Macron says there is now agreement among European leaders to close Schengen borders.
VG reports.
“In order to protect ourselves and stop the spread of the virus, but also to preserve our health care, we have made a joint decision between European leaders. From 12 o’clock in the morning, the borders at the entrance to the EU and the Schengen area will be closed.
“All travel to European countries and the EU will be stopped,” French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron said in a speech Monday night.
The Schengen area consists of 26 European countries: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland , Sweden, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Austria.
“All the European leaders made a choice today,” he said.
France is now imposing strict restrictions on moving outdoors, while at the same time cancelling the second round of local elections. For 15 days, there is almost a curfew in the country. Residents are only allowed to leave their homes to go to work and shop for food or other necessary goods such as medicines.
Persons who violate the restrictions will be punished with imprisonment.
“We’re at war,” Macron said in the speech.
France, after the transit and processing country of Poland, is Europe’s largest buyer of salmon.
