IL
The borders weren't shut, they were closed. That isn't the same thing.
France normally operates under Schengen, which means that borders with other Schengen countries are 'open borders' (i.e. no passport controls). Border controls are only normally enforced on people coming into France from non-Schengen countries (like the US, US etc.) The idea is that the border controls for any Schengen state are deemed good enough for all Schengen states, so there should only be checks on people arriving from non-Schengen countries. Once you are in the "Schengen zone" you are in. (NB Not all EU countries are in Schengen, and not all countries in Schengen are in the EU)
This is also what has happened in some other Schengen countries as a reaction to the migration issues of recent months.
France is described as having 'open borders' when Schengen is being enforced (i.e. free travel between Schengen countries). However they have suspended Schengen, so full border controls have been reinstated at borders which would otherwise be Schengen. This is what is described as having a 'closed border'.
Practically this means passport controls being introduced on the borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland etc. where normally there would be none. (It may also mean a change to how international rail travel works in Europe)
However I believe the border controls were going to be re-introduced in advance of the Climate Change conference due to take place at the end of the month?
I doubt there will be any major issues getting UK reporters into Paris - as they would always have had to pass through the border controls now introduced as the UK isn't in Schengen.
I'm aware of all of this but it wasn't very clear as whether there is no movement in and out of France or limited movement (as it turns out). There were questions last night as to the exact impact as its a new thing.
I don't know how the BBC can get any presenters/reporters parachuted into Paris as there is a state of emergency in place with the borders shut. I'm sure though they will make good use of the two correspondents on the ground already.
The borders weren't shut, they were closed. That isn't the same thing.
France normally operates under Schengen, which means that borders with other Schengen countries are 'open borders' (i.e. no passport controls). Border controls are only normally enforced on people coming into France from non-Schengen countries (like the US, US etc.) The idea is that the border controls for any Schengen state are deemed good enough for all Schengen states, so there should only be checks on people arriving from non-Schengen countries. Once you are in the "Schengen zone" you are in. (NB Not all EU countries are in Schengen, and not all countries in Schengen are in the EU)
This is also what has happened in some other Schengen countries as a reaction to the migration issues of recent months.
France is described as having 'open borders' when Schengen is being enforced (i.e. free travel between Schengen countries). However they have suspended Schengen, so full border controls have been reinstated at borders which would otherwise be Schengen. This is what is described as having a 'closed border'.
Practically this means passport controls being introduced on the borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland etc. where normally there would be none. (It may also mean a change to how international rail travel works in Europe)
However I believe the border controls were going to be re-introduced in advance of the Climate Change conference due to take place at the end of the month?
I doubt there will be any major issues getting UK reporters into Paris - as they would always have had to pass through the border controls now introduced as the UK isn't in Schengen.
I'm aware of all of this but it wasn't very clear as whether there is no movement in and out of France or limited movement (as it turns out). There were questions last night as to the exact impact as its a new thing.
