Austria German Border Down: Why This Is Great News For Europe Travel

The reopening of the Austria German land border within a month is great news for Europe travel–and more border openings between Austria, Germany, Switzerland and others are to come.

Travel across the border between Austria and Germany will be possible from June 15. It like many across Europe slammed shut in mid-March to stop the coronavirus spread.

“As of May 15 there will be only spot checks on the German-Austrian border. A full border opening will follow on June 15,” Kurz’s office said in a statement. Tourism Minister Elisabeth Koestinger told broadcaster ORF the first loosening would allow family visits and business trips.

One small step perhaps towards a total reopening of Europe, but a big stride symbolically, which means travel within the EU is off the starting blocks again post COVID-19. As Austria’s tourism minister Elisabeth Köstinger said announcing the decision, it marks a “step towards normality”.

The move by two big Europe players, gives hope that more land borders between European neighbors, which have shot up since March, will tumble over coming weeks. A move that will pave the way for a return to normal life and to post-corona tourism.

Koestinger told Austrian radio Ö1, following the agreement with Germany some restrictions on border traffic will be eased from Friday ahead of a total lifting mid-June.

Germany Planning More Border Relaxation With Neighbors

As to Germany, it too is preparing to start relaxing more border restrictions from Saturday, German news agency DPA is reporting. A decision made at a federal cabinet meeting in Berlin today. “The Interior Ministry says it will aim for a complete end to controls at all sections of the border on June 15,” reports Deutsche Welle.

The bilateral agreement between Austria and Germany is a sign of things to come. Many European nations from Croatia to Greece are talking of creating kinds of “travel bubbles” between two or more countries, to pave the way for a full return of international travel.

The EU executive in Brussels will announce a panacea for tourism in Europe including guidelines on border reopenings later today. It’s expected to give a nod to such agreements, to allow low-risk countries or regions to press ahead with border reopenings, rather than apply a blanket ban.

Austria A Go-Getter In Border Reopening

Indeed Austria is being a bit of a trailblazer on border reopening. Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been vigorously pushing for borders with countries that have similarly low COVID-19 infection rates to reopen.

Talks for more such border reopenings with Switzerland, Liechtenstein and “neighbouring eastern European countries” are underway the government says. “The aim is to quickly agree on the easing of border controls,” Kurz told Swiss radio SRF last night.

Kurz recognized that the vastly different coronavirus situation across Europe means countries should be free to go it alone on negotiating border openings. And makes no bones about being a go-getter.

“At a European level, there have been similar initiatives from us, and from Switzerland. Both of us are small, internationally well-connected, export-oriented countries. It is clear that we want to open more than maybe anywhere else. Our goal is of course to solve the situation on our large border with Germany. The talks with Germany are going very well. A breakthrough can also be expected there.”

Kurz puts his enthusiasm for border reopening down to the country’s success with “hard and quick” measures in containing the pandemic. The Alpine country has seen about 16,000 coronavirus cases and 600 deaths.

Austria Swiss Border Closures Too Will Tumble Soon

Kurz gave a heads-up on a similar opening in June with the Austria-Swiss borders. Austria he says is aiming to relax border controls with Switzerland later this week, with a full reopening by June.

“We are in very good contact with the Swiss government. It is our goal that we will be able to agree on significant easing in the next few days and complete the border controls in June. The numbers in Austria and Switzerland (of COVID-19 cases) are developing equally well.”

Travel Bubbles Mark Beginning Of End To EU’s Closed Land Borders

Many internal borders in the EU shot back up in a response to the coronavirus crisis. This on top of the closure of Europe’s external borders, and ban on foreign tourists, now extended to June 15.

But the trend towards “travel bubbles” between various European countries will see increasing numbers of land border controls soon disappear.

The Austria-German move may soon produce a domino effect of border openings. Switzerland, Austria, Germany and France are reportedly looking at the possibility of “corona corridors” to open up borders for tourism.

No matter how staggered land border reopening is across the EU, Kurz acknowledged this is the beginning of the end, to the limits on freedom of movement in the usually passport-free Schengen zone.

“Look at the situation in Europe, the borders are closed everywhere,” he said. “Now you have to find a mode to open the borders step by step. If you act too quickly or carelessly, very great damage can be done. We all don’t want that.”