Germany lifts border controls

“Since next week, EU citizens will no longer need a particular reason to enter Germany and quarantine rules will be removed,” Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said after a regular meeting of the German government on Wednesday.

The same applies to Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, countries that are not members of the EU but within Schengen.

Controls for passengers coming from Spain remain in force until 21 June. Likewise, for countries where a large number of new infections, such as Sweden, most German languages require quarantine.

Germany will also extend warnings of travel to non-EU countries by the end of August.

“We cannot and will not risk the Germans being again blocked around the world or those returning from vacation in Germany bringing the virus without knowing it,” Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement.

Aware that many Germans would be happy to go on vacation in Turkey, the US, North Africa or Southeast Asia, Maas said the government would reconsider the warnings before September.

Germany will also continue to advise citizens not to travel to Britain, Maas said.

At the same time, Seehofer announced the re-admission of refugees from other EU countries, which was also suspended for several months due to the coronary crisis.

“Starting next week, we are taking children from camps in Greek islands who need medical attention,” said Seehofer.

Germany has announced it will take over some of the refugees who have arrived across the Mediterranean in recent weeks from Italy and Malta.