Traffic jams at border across Europe
Traffic jams at border across Europe
Traffic jams at border across Europe
Note: *: BE and NL large international freight harbours; *: strong interlinkages with EU automobile industry Source: Eurostat, Deutsche Bank
Flow of goods essential for EU economies
Flow of goods essential for EU economies
Note: *: BE and NL large international freight harbours; *: strong interlinkages with EU automobile industry Source: Eurostat, Deutsche Bank
Note: *: BE and NL large international freight harbours; *: strong interlinkages with EU automobile industry Source: Eurostat, Deutsche Bank As the number of COVID-19 infections and death toll rapidly rise across the EU, public lockdown measures and temporary border restrictions across the bloc are certainly necessary. In fact, the Schengen Border Code gives member countries the prerogative of temporarily reintroducing border controls “in the event that a serious threat to public policy or internal security has been established”.[ 2 2 ] Already during the refugee crisis of 2015/16, EU countries introduced border controls as the EU struggled to deal with the dramatically risen number of refugees from the MENA region seeking shelter in the EU. However, in several cases, border controls have been maintained until today on migration and security grounds after the number of asylum applications dropped substantially. To some observers, this conflicts with the notion of temporary intra-European border measures and effectively could be seen as a suspension of the Schengen Convention enacted in 1995 that regulates the abolishment of border controls among 26 EU members.[ 3 3 ] Schengen is meant to guarantee passport-free travel and goods transport across the inner European borders. No one knows how long current measures to fight the spread of COVID-19 need to be left in place. The crisis will take a severe toll on the world and EU economies. But how hard members’ economies will be hit strongly depends on the length of their lockdowns and aggregate countermeasures taken. EU economies are strongly integrated both in terms of value chains and trade. The level of border restrictions will be a determinant for the economic fallout of the crisis. Exports and imports between members account for almost 45% of the bloc's GDP. Some EU economies are particularly exposed due to their strong trade and value chain linkages. Road transport accounts for the bulk of inland shipments (75%) within the EU. Traffic jams at neuralgic border crossings can rapidly add up to significant delays across the EU as the bloc’s economies have become increasingly interconnected and interdependent. Major disruptions at border checkpoints would therefore have severe consequences for the flow of goods within the EU, including essential goods and healthcare equipment. 75% of EU inland freight transport on the road
75% of EU inland freight transport on the road
75% of EU inland freight transport on the road
European Commission, 2019 Annual report on intra-EU labour mobility
Most EU/EFTA cross-border workers between Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland and Luxembourg
Most EU/EFTA cross-border workers between Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland and Luxembourg
European Commission, 2019 Annual report on intra-EU labour mobility
European Commission, 2019 Annual report on intra-EU labour mobility Beyond the immediate supply chain and broad economic consequences of border restrictions, the reinstallation of intra-European borders could have a lasting impact on the European Union as a whole. The COVID-19 crisis hits Europe at a time, where the Union, despite all efforts to stand more united against the mounting global challenges, is growing further apart. With Brexit, it lost one of its largest members and major proponent of the interests of the group of Northern members, damaging the political balance within the EU. EU leaders failed last week to agree on a plan for an additional common EU-level response. The fallout of the financial crisis can still be felt in several EU countries as leaders try to find consensus on unprecedented measures to counter the economic shock caused by the corona crisis. This includes highly controversial proposals such as a joint issuance of "corona bonds" that are heavily rejected by several “frugal” members, including the Netherlands, Scandinavians but also Germany. The Commission published a proposal yesterday for a European unemployment reinsurance scheme of up to EUR 100 bn [ 6 6 ] that will be discussed in the Eurogroup meeting on April 7 and should support short-time work schemes such as the German “Kurzarbeit” or Italian “Cassa Integrazione” [ 7 7 ] and similar measures. Members failed to find a common approach during the refugee crisis, where the Dublin regulation that determines the responsibility for asylum applications was essentially abandoned. Hungary and Poland are in open conflict with Brussels over their treatment of rule of law while Hungary installed a far-reaching state of emergency law to fight COVID-19 for an unlimited period that many observers consider an outright abolishment of democracy.[ 8 8 ] The Commission issued a warning on its website (without naming any specific members) to respect the fundamental principles and values of the EU in the fight against corona.[ 9 9 ] Agreement on the EU’s highly disputed next budget (2021-27) is still pending ( Talking Point, February 25 Talking Point, February 25 ) as the Commission started to adjust its budget proposal in order to include an economic stimulus package to fight the fallout of the pandemic.[ 10 10 ] While the response of EU leaders to the COVID-19 crisis so far has been mainly on the national level, with the suspension of the fiscal constraints of the stability and growth pact and reinstallment of border controls – as necessary as they are currently – the EU has now (temporarily) abandoned some of its own key pillars. Risks are that these measures – if required for a longer period of time – might contribute to growing discrepancies between members and see the EU drifting apart in times where unity and cooperation is needed more than ever. [ 1] 1] https://ec.europa.eu/transport/coronavirus-response_en https://ec.europa.eu/transport/coronavirus-response_en [2] European Commission (2020). European Commission (2020). [3] Ireland and the UK opted out of the Schengen Convention; Iceland, Norway and Switzerland are associated non-EU members of the Schengen area. [4] European Commission (2020). 2019 Annual report on intra-EU labour mobility. 2019 Annual report on intra-EU labour mobility. [5] Euractiv, March 25. Euractiv, March 25. [6] European Commission, March 30. European Commission, March 30. [7] Politico (31.03.2020). Politico (31.03.2020). [8] Guardian, April 1 2020. Guardian, April 1 2020. [9] European Commission, March 31. European Commission, March 31. [10] European Commission, March 28. European Commission, March 28.