Switzerland says ‘premature’ to lift entry restrictions at Italian border
5861 Min Read
The Swiss authorities say it’s still too early to lift entry restrictions with Italy on June 3, the date on which its southern neighbour will open its borders.
The Federal Council (executive body) said in a statement on June 2 that it plans to maintain border restrictions with Italy “until further notice”, as granting a reciprocal frontier arrangement with Italy would be “premature”.
This means that, as of Wednesday, Swiss citizens will be able to travel to and return from Italy, but Italians or Italian residents will not be able to do likewise in Switzerland.
The Federal Council added that it plans to coordinate the opening of Switzerland’s borders with Italy’s other neighbours, in consultation with the Swiss cantons bordering Italy.
Switzerland’s frontiers have been closed and strictly controlled since March 13, when the government limited land border crossings from Italy to curb the spread of Covid-19. Restrictions on entry by land and by air were later extended to all Schengen and non-Schengen states.
Meanwhile, Italy has unilaterally decided to reopen its borders as of June 3. But Switzerland has already told its southern neighbour that lifting border controls from that date was too early. Currently only cross-border workers can cross into Switzerland from Italy.
