The European Commission has notified member states that France will temporarily reinstate Schengen internal-border controls from 24 to 26 July as part of its security plan for the G7 leaders’ summit in Évian. The measure covers land, sea and air frontiers with Spain, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Italy. For travellers moving between Catalonia and the French regions of Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, this means passport or ID checks may be conducted on roads such as the AP-7/A9 and at Perpignan and Toulouse airports. Rail operators Renfe–SNCF have already warned of potential delays on high-speed services to Paris and Lyon. Corporate mobility teams should brief employees attending trade fairs in southern France or transiting via French hubs. Although EU citizens retain the right of movement, officials can ask for proof of itinerary and accommodation. Third-country nationals holding Spanish residence cards should carry originals rather than digital copies. The Commission’s notice reiterates that controls must be ‘targeted and proportionate’. However, previous temporary reintroductions have led to queues of up to three hours at La Jonquera freight crossing, impacting just-in-time supply chains in the automotive sector. Contingency routing via the Basque Country border is advisable for sensitive cargo over the weekend.
