From midnight on Monday, Spain established rigorous control of its land borders with France and Portugal for the duration of the state of alarm due to coronavirus. Only Spanish citizens and residents, cross-border workers, freight transport and a few other exceptions will be able to enter.

The measure was announced by interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska at a press conference from Madrid on Monday. The measure does not affect air and sea borders, but action on that front is not ruled out. This decision is in addition to the European Commission’s proposal this Monday to close its foreign borders for a month.

The Spanish interior minister announced the measure, after participating in a video conference at a combined European Council meeting interior and health ministers of EU member states’. Marlaska said that reestablishing border controls “is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate initiative.”

Marlaska did not rule it out applying the same restrictions to air and sea borders in the future. “All options may be considered,” he said. Spain’s move affects France and Portugal in the EU, but also Andorra and the UK border with Gibraltar.

The exceptions to this border closure measures are Spanish citizens, foreigners residing in Spain, cross-border workers, diplomatic or international organizations based in Spain, and people who have to enter for reasons of force majeure.

The measure won’t be applied to the transport of goods, in order to avoid shortage situations. It is being considered whether the Spanish army may participate in the control of land borders in coordination with Spain’s police forces and autonomous regional police.

“All Spanish and European citizens can feel protected by the actions of the authorities as a whole,” Fernando Grande-Marlaska said in a press conference. “We are united in our fight against this public health crisis,” he added. The main purpose of these measures is to “flatten the curve” of the graph of people infected, he said.

Rail and air routes to Portugal closed

In the case of the border between Spain and Portugal, the two countries have also agreed to suspend the air and rail connections. This decision was made public by the Portuguese authorities, in a press conference at the same time as Marlaska’s, although the Spanish minister made no reference to it. This cut will also start from midnight. Flights between Spain and Italy were already suspended last week.

European borders

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has proposed this Monday closing the EU’s external borders due to coronavirus for 30 days, with a few exceptions.

EU residents and family, diplomatic corps members, coronavirus containment personnel, transport workers and customs staff. In addition, food and medical supplies would be given preferential access would not be affected by this closure.