To think Macron is ridiculous

[Dongdingdong]

These poor lorry drivers are very isolated anyway due to the nature of their jobs. The chances of them catching this new super strain and transmitting it are even slimmer than most people’s very slim chances. Macron’s decision to close the border is a hysterical overreaction and no doubt politically (Brexit) motivated. Open the borders and let them through!

I think banning passenger flights is sensible but banning food and medicines coming over is pathetic. The Netherlands are still sending us over food and medicines. It is just Macron. He is pissed off about the fishing so making a point. I hope he gets voted out. We need grown ups in charge. When Boris offered for lorry drivers to have Covid test for s long time he still said no. I now really hope we leave with no deal and can't understand people who want a close relationship with people like Macron.

jasjas1973
UK 70k deaths
Germany 28k deaths

But not doing as well as there were -

"December has marked the deadliest month of the coronavirus pandemic in Germany so far, with more than 10,000 deaths reported within the first three weeks."

www.dw.com/en/germany-monthly-covid-death-toll-set-to-double-in-december/a-56000364

they were

I now really hope we leave with no deal and can't understand people who want a close relationship with people like Macron

It's a relationship with the EU

Unless you are suggesting that in fact - each country within the EU and each EU leader does in fact have a lot of power to influence decisions, to close its borders and to control who does come in and out of their country?

Which sounds like something we were told was impossible under the EU.

Lorry drivers mostly bringing fresh produce from France and other European nations to the U.K. They aren't stopping them coming in are they? Are thought leaving was the issue.

How unreasonable of the French to want travel restrictions when we are told not to travel round the UK, Cornwall moaning about Londoners arriving with "their" virus but France should welcome anyone from the UK with open arms.

Buy British, I for one will be buying local veg and meat, we have a vineyard up the road that makes terrific wines. Do you in France you can only buy French wine, how is that allowed under the rules of the EU? The French are a rule to themselves. We should’ve shut our borders in March, we would’ve coped with this much better if we had of done.

When Boris offered for lorry drivers to have Covid test for s long time he still said no. Wasn't Boris offering the inaccurate lateral flow test? France wanted the accurate PCR test, how very dare they, anyone would think their govt shouldn't be looking after the danger this new variant brings.

Do you in France you can only buy French wine, how is that allowed under the rules of the EU

That's a surprise

www.bkwine.com/news/foreign-wines-france-increase-market-share/

In France you drink French wines. With the variety that exists in this huge wine country, you never get tired of French wines. But the fact is that the French drink more and more foreign wines. An study on wine sales in big grocery stores (where most wines are sold) shows a rise in recent years for non-French wines. These now represent 7% in volume and 4% in value.

Ignorant Britain asked for it.

Mais Macron, je l'aime. C'est evident qu'il a un cerveau beaucoup grand que Boris. Parmi d'autres choses.

Ignorant Britain asked for it

Britain asked for a new strain of Covid?

March -
"France has forced a face mask manufacturer to cancel a major UK order as the coronavirus-inspired scramble for protective gear intensifies."

"The National Health Service ordered millions of masks from Valmy SAS near Lyon earlier this year as COVID-19 threatened."

"But amid a global shortage, France earlier this week ordered the requisition of all protective masks made in the country."

www.euronews.com/2020/03/06/coronavirus-french-protective-mask-manufacturer-scraps-nhs-order-to-keep-masks-in-france

No of course not, inviting European hostility, yes!

But amid a global shortage, France earlier this week ordered the requisition of all protective masks made in the country

It's almost like it has control of its own borders, and can make up laws to protect its people.

Next you'll be telling us it can set its own taxes and everything.

It's almost like it has control of its own borders, and can make up laws to protect its people.

Ursula wasn't happy though -

"The president of the European Commission has criticised EU member states for throwing up border controls to each other during the coronavirus pandemic." ...

“When Europe really needed to be there for each other, too many initially looked out for themselves. When Europe really needed an all-for-one spirit, too many initially gave an only for me response, and when Europe really needs to prove that this is not only a fair-weather union, too many initially refused to share their umbrella.”

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/coronavirus-eu-border-control-schengen-von-der-leyen-freedom-movement-a9428066.html

Hang on - the UK wasn't in the EU when this order was cancelled plus Trump did the same to european allies.
The UK sought to order PPE from many countries that needed it themselves.

If OxAz could only manufacture 66m vaccines next year, i'm sure you'd be on here telling us to still honour overseas orders? non?

Humans are selfish, we look after ourselves first and foremost.

Clav UK has had almost 700 deaths today, proportionately not far short of the German death toll, they have a long way to go to be anywhere nr our awful death rate.

Irish Times - March

"Coronavirus: European solidarity sidelined as French interests take priority."

"Row over face masks exposes threat to EU principles of free trade and collaboration." ...

"perhaps no French move has alarmed other Europeans more than Paris’s ban on the export of surgical masks and other medical supplies to its European partners."

"On March 3rd, President Emmanuel Macron announced that he was requisitioning “all stocks and the production of protective masks” for distribution to medical personnel and French people infected with Covid-19."

"One fifth of all surgical procedures in the EU use personal protective equipment imported from Asia by the Swedish company Mölnlycke. The company’s main distribution warehouse for southern Europe, Belgium and the Netherlands is in Lyon."

"Mölnlycke’s entire stock of an estimated six million masks was seized by the French..."

"The spat is not about money, the Swedes insist, since surgical masks have relatively low monetary value. “In an EU crisis, they confiscated masks that were ordered and designated for other nations...The French often evoke solidarity within the EU. The really fundamental principle of free movement of goods within the EU is toppled,” says a Swedish official."

www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/coronavirus-european-solidarity-sidelined-as-french-interests-take-priority-1.4216184

[quote Clavinova]March -
"France has forced a face mask manufacturer to cancel a major UK order as the coronavirus-inspired scramble for protective gear intensifies."

"The National Health Service ordered millions of masks from Valmy SAS near Lyon earlier this year as COVID-19 threatened."

"But amid a global shortage, France earlier this week ordered the requisition of all protective masks made in the country."

www.euronews.com/2020/03/06/coronavirus-french-protective-mask-manufacturer-scraps-nhs-order-to-keep-masks-in-france[/quote]
Who'd have thought a European country could manage its own affairs - almost like having sovereignty.

Who'd have thought a European country could manage its own affairs - almost like having sovereignty

Next you'll be telling us they can choose the colour of their passports as well?

jasjas1973

I was replying to your post;
"Germany has had so few deaths" -

they have had 10,000 deaths in the last 3 weeks.

they have had 10,000 deaths in the last 3 weeks

Yes - this Covid 19 is a horrendous disease and countries are doing whatever it takes to protect themselves and their citizens.

Because even in the EU, countries can still control their borders and decide who goes in and out.

Because of sovereignty.

Which we always had.

Because even in the EU, countries can still control their borders and decide who goes in and out.

19 December -

"Germany: 50% fewer asylum-seekers deported due to COVID."
"The decrease was partially due to travel regulations due to the coronavirus pandemic, with officials citing a lack of flights and refusal on the part of some countries to take back their citizens."

www.dw.com/en/germany-50-fewer-asylum-seekers-deported-due-to-covid/a-55995293

We've been given a glimpse of how important the Dover - Calais crossing is now.

If anyone has been to Dover, you'll know how it could get very busy with customs checks - and there's not much space to expand - so queues could become inevitable if we have complex bureaucracy in place.

Lol Pandemic slows deportation of failed Asylum seekers... wow! who'd have thought.

EU commision tells member states to stop bans of freight and peoples from the UK, member states ignore this.... looks like the 'Commision isn't this federal demigod after all..... but many of us knew this already.

Ursula wasn't happy

^The EU cannot impose its own "blanket" travel ban.
Those decisions are made by individual member states.
In this area - the EU can advise, co-ordinate, cajole and complain, but it can't mandate.^

Not sure why Germany's asylum seekers system has been mentioned

@TokyoSushi

This is a situation entirely of our own making.

You think this is because of Brexit? Or do you mean it was our fault that Boris created the virus in his Downing Street lab?

Most of the countries banning travel from the UK are not in the EU themselves.