French-Spanish border closed due to Central European Bank summit meeting

THE border between Spain and France has been temporarily shut due to the summit meeting of the Central European Bank (BCE) and will not re-open until midnight on Friday.

This decision has been taken to prevent thousands of protesters from other parts of Europe from descending on the summit en masse.

It will be held in Barcelona on Thursday, May 3.

According to the Schengen agreement, which dictates that citizens of member states may not be prevented from moving freely between countries that form part of said agreement, borders may be closed temporarily for safety reasons in such situations.

Travellers may be allowed to cross between France and Spain, subject to restrictions, and security forces will guard the border gates all week.

Vigilance will also be stepped up at the airports in Barcelona and Girona.

Other times when member state borders have been closed or closely controlled have included major sporting events, international summit meetings and Royal weddings.

The BCE holds summits twice a year outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, in other member states.