Workers paint a line on the street to adapt the mobility of pedestrians and ensure social distancing in Barcelona, Spain, May 19, 2020. (Barcelona City Hall/Handout via Xinhua)

"Keeping to the principle of gradual progress and bearing in mind the commitments announced to reopen international tourism, safe international mobility will happen after July 1," confirmed the government.

MADRID, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish government has corrected comments made early on Thursday by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Reyes Maroto that the country could open its land borders with France and Portugal on June 22.

Maroto had commented in an interview that it was a possibility the country could open its land borders the day after the State of Alarm expires on June 21, but hours later the government issued a communique insisting that "international mobility" would restart on July 1.

An operator modifies the circulation of vehicles to widen the sidewalks and ensure social distancing on pedestrians in Barcelona, Spain, May 19, 2020. (Barcelona City Hall/Handout via Xinhua)

"Keeping to the principle of gradual progress and bearing in mind the commitments announced to reopen international tourism, safe international mobility will happen after July 1," confirmed the government.

The communique explained that movement within Spain will be allowed from June 22, but insisted that "controls on land, air and maritime frontiers could be prolonged beyond the State of Alarm."

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had previously stated that Spain would reopen for foreign tourists at the start of July and that the quarantine measures currently in place for international arrivals would be ended. ■