- Title: France to make borders checks to stop people skiing abroad - PM
- Date: 2nd December 2020
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (DECEMBER 1, 2020) (AGENCY POOL) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, AND BELGIAN PRIME MINISTER, ALEXANDER DE CROO, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MACRON AND DECROO AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING: "If there are countries, both within and outside the European Union, that keep their ski stations open, we will of course hav
- Embargoed: 16th December 2020 09:57
- Keywords: Austria COVID-19 Castex De Croo Europe France Germany Italy Macron closures coronavirus ski unfair competition
- Location: MEGEVE AND PARIS, FRANCE / ZERMATT AND BARDONNEX, SWITZERLAND / PASSO DEL TONALE, ITALY / BEUERBERG, GERMANY / OBERTAUERN, AUSTRIA
- City: MEGEVE AND PARIS, FRANCE / ZERMATT AND BARDONNEX, SWITZERLAND / PASSO DEL TONALE, ITALY / BEUERBERG, GERMANY / OBERTAUERN, AUSTRIA
- Country: France
- Topics: European Union,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA003D7BDVLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: France will make random borders checks to stop the spread of COVID-19 crossing into neighbouring countries where ski resorts remain open, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Wednesday (December 2).
The measures, also aimed at appeasing French resorts operators complaining of an uneven playing field, will apply to France's borders with Switzerland and Spain, where it is expected ski slopes will be open during the festive season.
"The goal is to avoid French citizens getting contaminated. That will be done by installing random checks at the borders," Castex told BFM TV, reiterating France's decision to keep its ski lifts closed at Christmas.
European countries have struggled to act in unison on the topic, with billions of euros at stake for some countries as well as tens of thousands of seasonal jobs.
Germany and Italy share France's position but with Austria, as well as Spain and Switzerland, leaning towards opening its ski resorts, the topic has become divisive in Europe, even though Castex hinted there was still room for an agreement.
During the first wave of infections last season, some ski centres became breeding grounds for the coronavirus, accelerating its spread across Europe.
Speaking at a news conference alongside Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, French President Emmanuel Macron said France will put in place "restrictive and dissuasive measures" to deter the French from leaving the country to ski.
De Croo commended France's move to keep ski stations closed.
"We have to be clear that in this current situation, that's strongly discouraged," De Croo said. "In the future, we will have so many opportunities to go on vacation in your marvelous country."
(Production: Ardee Napolitano) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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