Czech Republic prolongs border checks with Austria and Germany until April 24

Prague, April 2 (CTK) – The Czech government prolonged the checks at the borders with Germany and Austria by 20 days until midnight April 24 at its meeting on Wednesday.

The government set aside 18.1 million crowns from the budget reserve to the Interior Ministry for the checks.

The government renewed the border checks due to the coronavirus outbreak since March 14. At first, the measure was to last five days. Then it was prolonged until April 4. The checks also relate to airports.

Under the government resolution, the Interior Ministry will inform EU members, the European Commission and partnership authorities of the neighbouring countries about the temporary renewal of the internal border protection. It should also examine how long the “serious threat to the public order and internal security of the Czech Republic lasts.”

The border checks are also based on the Schengen Border Code, describing various situations for their renewal and also the period for which an EU member can reintroduce the protection of its internal border.

The government resolution does not relate to the borders with Poland and Slovakia.

Interior Minister Jan Hamacek (Social Democrats, CSSD) said earlier the situation on them was regulated by the decisions of Poland and Slovakia and there was no reason for the Czech Republic to respond in kind.

Until April 12, there is still the ban on Czechs travelling abroad and on foreigners entering the Czech Republic. The bans were approved within the regulations of the state of emergency that allows such measures.