EU internal Schengen border controls hampering Single Market

There is growing concern in the EPP Group about continuing border controls damaging the Single Market. In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Group's Spokespersons on the Single Market and Home Affairs, MEPs Andreas Schwab and Roberta Metsola, call for a strict monitoring of border controls in the Schengen Area.

"We need to stay vigilant, no doubt, but if the level of the pandemic is equally low on either side of the border, seal-offs are no longer justified. Member States are doing themselves a huge disservice and are raising false expectations by keeping the borders closed", said Andreas Schwab. "We cannot accept border controls to be prolonged unnecessarily. The Schengen Border Code is there for a reason and we call on the European Commission to closely monitor developments", said Roberta Metsola.

"It is the people and the economy alike that are suffering from closed borders. A well-functioning Single Market needs to be part of our response to the economic and health crisis", said EPP Group Single Market Spokesman Andreas Schwab. "Member States should work together so that the EU can gradually, carefully and responsibly reopen the borders in a unified way. Cohesion in this matter would provide much needed certainty at this time", said Roberta Metsola, who is the EPP Group’s Spokeswoman for Home Affairs.

Read the letter from Andreas Schwab and Roberta Metsola in full here.