Region Sønderjylland-Schleswig (Denmark-Germany)

• Author: Viaggi, Raffaele; Rubio, Jean; Peyrony, Jean
• Pages: 9-11

 ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF BORDER-RELATED MEASURE S TAKEN BY MS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

 CASE STUDIES

9

Region Sønderjylland–Schleswig (Denmark-

Germany)

Border controls and

cross-border mobility

(Reduced crossings

points, type of controls,

congestion, CB public

transport…)

Borders were closed on both sides. Out of 13 crossing points only

5 were kept open, and at the very beginning only 3. Controls have

been already in place since 2016 so people were used to them.

However, the requirement to present a justification and a cert ifi-

cate confirming that the reason for crossing the border was leg iti-

mate was entirely new.

Initially, only employees, deliverers/suppliers and crews of

transport means were allowed to travel from Germany to Denmark.

Exceptions were introduced for funerals, or family members with

need for special care.

Controls led to congestion in several areas, with up to 90 minutes

waiting time for the frontier workers and lack of parking possibili-

ties.

As for Germany, travel restrictions were introduced with the ex-

ception for “just causes”: to work and to visit family members

(which needed to be certificated and proven).

CB coordination and di-

alogue during the crisis

and the de-contain-

ment phase

(Evolution in border con-

trols and effects of the lift-

ing of border controls)

As measures were relaxed, it became possible to visit family mem-

bers as well as citizens from the German neighbouring regions.

Denmark is a centrally governed state, so the majority of the

measured implemented had been decided upon at the national

level. In Germany, the states (local level) had some degree of lib-

erty when decidi ng on measures, and the general approach went

well. There was no real coordination between Germany and Den-

mark.

Impact on cross-bor-

der workers

CB workers were allowed to cross the border all along.

Impact on the users of

cross-border public

services (CPS)

The cross -border emergency medical service had been

paused due to the border closure. The service has now been re-

sumed, and while they could not provide their regular service they

collected data on t he local situation. The cross-border fire

fighter service kept operating.