This may include advertisements from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. The French President was followed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel who imposed unilateral export bans. Even after the EU had imposed a mask restriction for the entire bloc, President Macron maintained his national export restriction on masks. The plan, presented by Commissioner Thierry Breton, aims to ensure a free movement of goods, services and people, with greater transparency and coordination and fast-track decisions when a crisis occurs. It will also prevent national governments from blocking internal EU shipments, as President Macron did in early 2020. The new law will be presented in the spring by Brussels, according to Breton. He said that the acute supply shortages experienced during the period are needed in basic industrial applications e.g. During the digital and green transition, magnesium is vital for steelmaking, wood for construction and chemicals for dyes others.