EU leaders agree to close borders for 30 days to stop coronavirus spread
After a video-conference summit on Tuesday, the leaders agreed to institute a travel ban that prohibits most foreigners from entering the 27 nations' external borders immediately.
However, they also announced plans to establish fast-track lanes at their countries' frontiers to keep goods moving.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference that it would be up to European countries to implement the closure of their borders to citizens from third countries.
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"The enemy is the virus and now we have to do our utmost to protect our people and to protect our economies," she said.
"We are ready to do everything that is required. We will not hesitate to take additional measures as the situation evolves."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said late Tuesday that European leaders agreed in a conference call to the Commission's proposal for an entry ban with "very, very limited exceptions."
Ms Merkel says citizens of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom and Norway are exempt.
The EU leaders also agreed to coordinate the repatriation of EU citizens stranded outside the bloc, she said.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron told his fellow EU leaders that emergency border controls cannot damage their internal market, a French presidency source said.
The French presidency source also said EU leaders agreed to join forces in bringing back to Europe their citizens stranded abroad and reaffirmed their aim to take "all measures necessary" to help their economies weather the economic fallout.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told the video-conference that no EU country would be left untouched by the "socio-economic tsunami".
He called for special "coronavirus bonds" or a European guarantee fund to help countries finance urgent health and economic policies, an Italian government source said.
