Spain calls for common EU on cross-border movement as coronavirus lockdowns ease

Spain on Tuesday urged its European Union partners to set up common rules to open borders and reestablish the freedom of travel Schengen Area as different national coronavirus lockdowns are phased out. "We have to work with our European partners to define the common rules that will allow us to retake freedom of movement on European territory," Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez said on Cadena Ser radio station.

Even though EU countries have set different dates for reopening borders, there must be common principles and rules throughout the Schengen Area to open internal borders and set up rules for external borders, she said.