The Spanish Government has agreed to
reestablish the controls at the EU land borders, except Gibraltar and Andorra.
From midnight, access will only allowed for Spanish citizens, residents in
Spain, cross-border workers, to those accredited due to force majeure (unforeseeable
circumstances) situations of need and for the transport of goods.
This was announced by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska,
after having participated in a videoconference with the Interior and Health
ministers of the European Union. Quotes from his speech.
“It is a necessary, reasonable and proportional measure to ensure the ultimate
goal; protect the safety and health of all of us and contain the expansion of
the coronavirus,” said Marlaksa, who has reported that the measure will be in
force until the State of Alarm ends.
The minister has stressed that the decision has been made in coordination with
the European Union and has specified that the Government is working so that the
Spaniards who are outside the country can return.
“We will put all the instruments to work so that Spanish citizens anywhere in
the world can return to their residence do so as soon as possible,” he said.
It will not affect the transport of goods
On the other hand, the Interior Minister has assured that the closure of
borders will have no effect on the transport of goods in order to ensure the
continuity of economic activity and “preserve the supply chain.”
Nor will the measure affect diplomatic staff accredited in Spain, provided they
make trips related to their duties.
The Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has already spoken with both the French
President, Emmanuel Macron, and the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa,
and, according to Marlaska, the decision adopted by Spain involves the
activation of Article 28 of the Code of Schengen borders, which allow the
states to reestablish controls in situations such as those defined by the royal
decree that has established the state of alarm in the country and which opens
the door to impose mobility restrictions.
Sanctions proportional to the seriousness
of the facts
In a previous appearance, Grande-Marlaska had highlighted that, as a
consequence of the declaration of the state of alarm, there has been a
“manifest reduction” in traffic and that the situation is “normal under
extraordinary circumstances”.
He recalled that “there are orders to comply with the royal decree of a state
of alarm because there are very serious things with which the entire society is
committed, which is to safeguard health, which is a duty of solidarity with one
another.”
Thus, “the imposition of sanctions on the reluctant to comply with the
regulations and the unsupportive is based on parameters of proportionality and
as there is a great sense of solidarity, the response to sanctions is minimal,
“he added.
The minister has assured that the coordination of the State Security Forces,
the National Police and the Civil Guard, with the autonomous police, Mossos
d’Esquadra, Ertzintza and the Navarra Police “works normally and at maximum”.
Editors Note
For more current and accurate information on the situation here in Spain go to
the CAB Spain webpage and click on “Comunicados”.
