Spain backtracks on decision to open land borders

Madrid, June 5 (IANS) The Spanish government has backtracked comments made by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Reyes Maroto that the country could open its land borders with France and Portugal on June 22.

Earlier on Thursday, Maroto had commented in an interview that it was a possibility the country could open its land borders the day after the State of Alarm expires on June 21, Xinhua news agency reported.

But hours later, the government issued a communique insisting that “international mobility” would restart on July 1.

“Keeping to the principle of gradual progress and bearing in mind the commitments announced to reopen international tourism, safe international mobility will happen after July 1,” it added.

The communique explained that movement within Spain will be allowed from June 22, but insisted that “controls on land, air and maritime frontiers could be prolonged beyond the State of Alarm”.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had previously stated that Spain would reopen for foreign tourists at the start of July and that the quarantine measures currently in place for international arrivals would be ended.

Thursday’s development came a day after The Spanish Congress or lower chamber of Parliament the sixth and final extension of the State of Alarm in the country, which limits freedom of movement in an effort to curb COVID-19 spread.

The extension of the emergency measures, which have been in place in Spain since March 15 to combat the coronavirus spread, was approved on Wednesday with 177 votes in favour, 155 against and 18 abstentions.

Sanchez said the extension, which will remain in place until June 21, will be “lighter” than previous extensions as Spain moves towards the “new normality” after the lifting of restrictions.

A State of Alarm is the first of three emergency levels a Spanish government can apply under exceptional circumstances, with the others being “A State of Exception” and “Martial Law”.

It grants the government special powers to limit the movement of citizens, to control the means of production and use private assets if needed and also to use the military to carry out essential logistical and supply jobs.

According to the latest data, 240,660 people have been infected by the coronavirus in Spain, while 27,133 have lost their lives.

–IANS

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