Some British nationals have not been able to use the Channel Tunnel for several days to transit by road through France to reach their European residence, under the traffic rules put in place by France to curb the Covid epidemic. 19, creating confusion at the border.
The blocking concerns Britons officially resident in a European Union country other than France, and who usually go through France to get there, as is the case during this holiday season. Those who reside in France are not affected.
“Considered as citizens of third countries”
“Unless they hold a French residence, British citizens are now considered citizens of third countries and can no longer transit through France by road to reach their country of residence in the EU,” tweeted this Wednesday Eurotunnel, the subsidiary of the Getlink group which manages the Channel Tunnel, evoking a decision of the French government of December 28.
Ditto for ferries: “Only those who have a residence in France will be allowed to enter France”, wrote in a tweet the company P&O Ferries.
The Interior Ministry sets the record straight
The Interior Ministry replied that there had been no rule changes, and that it was about the application of border instructions, updated on December 18.
“The British, the same beneficiaries of the withdrawal agreement, are nationals of third countries, the withdrawal agreement allowing them to be exempt (for the moment) from a residence permit,” said the ministry. “Therefore, and even though the title of the category is silent on this point, it seems logical to read it in a manner consistent with other third-country nationals and not to allow transit to another EU country . “
Consternation among passengers
The application of these rules surprised British passengers who had planned to use the Eurotunnel to return to their European country of residence, some testifying on Twitter that they were denied access to the tunnel just before boarding.
It causes confusion and disarray among people who were about to travel, such as Fiona Navin-Jones: “I’m completely lost, that doesn’t make sense! “, Explains the Briton, currently in Great Britain and who was to return Thursday by car with her children, her husband and her dog in Belgium, where she has lived for 14 years.
Coming to spend Christmas with her family, she finds herself unable to take the same route as on the way there. “Now, I do not have the right to return home”, notes this professor, considering that it is a “question of Brexit disguised with the Covid”.