as a Correspondent in Brussels
Blow hot between Paris and Brussels and the crisis of the nerve at the points of passage between France and Belgium in the weekend of Pentecost. While the belgian government was planning to reopen its borders from 8 June, he announced Friday through the voice of the federal minister of the Interior, Pieter de Crem, the Belgian could the next day visit the countries bordering the Kingdom to see family or… shopping. France was not prevented. And swallow, so since Saturday, those who try to pass because, on the French side, the re-opening is scheduled for June 15.
I have received almost 300 messages from people who did not understand what was happening
Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade, member of the French abroad zone Benelux
“It is not yet possible to go shopping at the Carrefour de Lille”, it was explained on Saturday in the ministry of the Interior. And, to add to a situation that was already complicated, it also happened that the Belgians were driven back by police officers belgians who had not been informed of the easing measures decided upon by the government Wilmès. The case has attracted a lot of questions amongst the French resident in Belgium, but also among the Belgians themselves. “I have received almost 300 messages from people who did not understand what was happening,” says Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade, a deputy of the French from abroad to the area of Benelux.
This unilateral decision has provoked some questions in France. This event would not have been raised during the telephone conversation that they had this week, the French minister of the Interior , Christophe Castaner and his belgian colleague Pieter de Crem. In the netherlands, the change of foot suddenly the belgian government has also somewhat annoyed. Of course, the borders remained open during the crisis Dutch side. But the mayors of the common border with Belgium believe that they would have to be kept informed. “The Belgians are good in a tactical surprise”, thus ironisé on Twitter, Marga Vermue, the mayor of Sluis. Other elected officials say that, in case of influx too massive, they will return the visitors in Belgium.
In Luxembourg, on the other hand, it welcomed the decision of belgium. “It is a gesture appreciated on the eve of the weekend of Pentecost, which will allow families to see each other after weeks of separation. This decision taken by the federal government should help to defuse a situation that remains difficult in our border with Belgium, reacts as early as Friday, the luxembourg minister of foreign and european Affairs, Jean Asselborn who had pestered against the closure of the German border.
This is not the first time that Belgium stands alone on these issues of internal borders. At the beginning of the crisis of the sars coronavirus, the country had also closed its borders unilaterally, without any consultation with the governments of neighbouring countries. For several weeks, the Commission called at regular intervals to the member States to co-ordinate.
The editorial team conseilleL’Germany and France, do not know how to reopen their frontièreQuand will travel-we again abroad? The latest info to connaître2 commentairesherve actifle 31/05/2020 20:05
A Belgian story !
ANNICK LOUVEL nana42le 31/05/2020 20:02
3 of my grandchildren live in Belgium but I’m going to wait a little. However, it is not the desire that I lack.
Yannou013le 31/05/2020 19:44
It is the communication and European cooperation. What a wonder!
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