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#Coronavirus - EU takes measures to ensure critical cross-border workers can reach their work places

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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen

Today (30 March), the European Commission issued advice to ensure that mobile workers within the EU, in particular those in critical occupations can reach their workplace. This includes but is not limited to those working in the health care and food sectors, and other essential services like childcare, elderly care, and critical staff for utilities. 

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said:

“Over the past weeks we have taken strong measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus in the EU. Certain national governments have introduced controls at internal borders. But we have one and a half million people in the EU who live in one country and work in another. They need to cross the border to go to work. Many of them have jobs that are important for us all to get through the crisis." 

Together with guidance on the implementation of the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU also issued today, this responds to requests made by EU leaders at the European Summit of last week (26 March) and seeks to address practical concerns of citizens and companies affected by the measures taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus, as well as of national authorities implementing the measures. 

The Commission says that while it is understandable that EU Member States have introduced internal border controls to limit the spread of the coronavirus, it is imperative that critical workers are able to reach their destination without delay. 

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Von der Leyen made this clear that this was not just about those working for the emergency services saying that we also need food on our dinner tables too:

“We need those who produce [foodand deliver it to be able to move too. We need people to plant or harvest our crops. We have to make sure we have enough seasonal workers in the agricultural sector. Many hard working Europeans help us combat this virus. Together, we will make it easier for them to work, safely.” 

Workers  

The first set of guidelines identify workers that exercise critical occupations, in particular to fight the Coronavirus pandemic, for which continued free movement in the EU is deemed essential. These include health professionals, child and elderly care workers, scientists, medical device technicians, firefighters, police officers, transport workers, and persons working in the food sector. Seasonal workers are included for their critical role in harvesting, planting and tending functions. The guidelines add that Member States should allow frontier workers in general to continue crossing borders if work in the sector concerned is still allowed in the host Member State.  

European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit said:  

“Thousands of women and men working hard to keep us safe, healthy and with food on the table need to cross EU borders to go to work. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that they are not hindered in their movement, while taking every precaution to avoid further spread of the pandemic.” 

Restrictions on non-essential travel 

The guidance on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU, which will assist border guards and visa authorities, provides advice on the implementation of the temporary restriction at the border, on facilitating transit arrangements for the repatriation of EU citizens, and on visa issues. 

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