EU agrees to close external borders, but fast tracks for goods

European Union leaders agreed on Tuesday to close Europe's borders for 30 days to prevent the spread of coronavirus but establish fast-track lanes at their countries' frontiers to keep goods moving, bloc leaders said after a video-conference summit. EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN said "All the measures that have been taken on the health side - which are correct to contain the virus - we see that they have a huge impact on our economy. This is an external shock and it hits the whole world. We have never had that before. The enemy is the virus and now we have to do our utmost to protect our people and to protect our economies."

European Commission President told a news conference that it would be up to European countries to implement the closure of their borders to citizens from third countries.