What Does France Closing Its Borders Mean?

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French President Francois Hollande closed the country’s borders late Friday night in response to deadly terror attacks that gripped Paris. “We have to assure ourselves that no one can enter in order to commit any act, whatever that may be, at the same time that these crimes that have taken place can be stopped,” Hollande said in a news conference late Friday.

Transportation officials scrambled to determine what France’s decision to implement border controls would mean for travel to and from the country following the series of attacks in Paris.

France’s foreign minister said the country would implement border controls across road, rail, sea and aviation entry points. Airline and rail links would continue to operate, with airports remaining open. France has open borders with many of its European neighbors, though the government’s announcement suggests some checks would be restored. Travel officials are still trying to figure out what the additional security measures would entail, but the steps could include ID checks at borders that previously weren’t required.

Air France said it would operate its regular scheduled services, though it warned passengers of delays due to enhanced border controls.

France operates under the Schengen Agreement, which consists of a common border and immigration policy consisting of 26 nations, the majority of which are European Union members. The Schengen Agreement took effect in 1995 and abolished the EU’s internal borders, enabling passport-free movement across the bloc.

Under the Schengen rules, signatories are allowed to reinstate internal border controls for 10 days for necessary “public policy or national security” reasons. If the problem persists, the controls can be maintained for “renewable periods” of up to 20 days and a maximum of two months. A 2013 EU regulation specified that the controls, “should remain an exception and should only be effected as a measure of last resort, for a strictly limited scope and period of time.”

Flights into France as well as trains are continuing despite the border closing, though there were numerous cancellations. No information has been received yet regarding what the French government plans to do when the first 20 days come to an end.