The dogma of free movement and health and safety

Question for written answer  E-001100/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Julie Lechanteux (ID)

On Monday 22 February 2021, the Commission gave six Member States (Belgium, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Hungary and Sweden) ten days to justify the travel restrictions imposed on both nationals and foreigners in order to contain the current pandemic and reduce the risk posed by the new COVID-19 variants.

On Tuesday 23 February, at the request of the Commission, the Portuguese Presidency of the Council and the European Affairs ministers of the Member States met in videoconference to discuss the issue of free movement within the European Union and border restrictions.

Belgium, which is one of the countries that received a warning from the Commission, is the seat of the European institutions and has banned any non-essential travel abroad.

Defying logic, Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič criticised the travel bans introduced by the Member States concerned as part of their efforts to curb the spread of the virus, which he says should ‘remain the exception’.

Does the Commission believe that the dogma of free movement should take precedence over health and safety?