Vigilance urged as France may move to bolster border controls

The U.S. Embassy in France urged travelers to exercise caution while in France and other parts of Europe, and French President François Hollande indicated that border controls would be strengthened after an attack in Nice that killed 84 people.

Key points:

• The Embassy reiterated that U.S. citizens should “maintain a high level of vigilance” in France and other parts of Europe and added that, while airports and train stations remain open, “travelers may expect delays due to heightened security measures.”
• President Hollande said in a statement that reservists would be deployed “wherever we need them and, in particular, for border control.” He said France would extend its state of emergency, which was set to expire July 26, for three months.

Background: The statements Friday followed a late-night attack in Nice where a man drove a truck through crowds of people gathered to celebrate Bastille Day. The Embassy reiterated many of the points from a May 31 Europe Travel Alert, which warned of potential attacks at large public gatherings including the European Soccer Championship in Paris, which ended this past weekend, and the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day events, scheduled to be held in Poland later this month. President Hollande indicated that he intended to strengthen border controls, but provided few specifics. He said he planned to submit a bill to Parliament next week to extend the state of emergency.

BAL Analysis: Travelers should exercise caution when abroad, especially in areas or at events which officials believe could be vulnerable to attack. Employers may wish to encourage their employees to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, a free service that provides updated security information and allows Americans to register their trips abroad with the closest U.S. embassy or consulate. Though airports and train stations remain open in France, delays are possible, especially if France increases border patrols in the weeks ahead.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact BerryApplemanLeiden@bal.com.

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