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Schengen anniversary overshadowed by returning border checks
- On January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria officially joined the Schengen Area, expanding the passport-free zone to 29 countries covering nearly 4.5 million square kilometres and almost 450 million people.
- This expansion follows the 1985 Schengen Agreement, which five countries signed to gradually abolish internal border checks and enable free movement across member states.
- Although Schengen remains a key element of European unity, several countries, including Slovenia and Italy, have recently brought back temporary border controls due to concerns over security and increased migration.
- According to the EU, temporary border controls can only be applied as a last resort in exceptional cases such as terrorist attacks or public security threats, while 405 exceptional controls occurred between 2015 and 2024.
- The inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria has boosted economic activity and foreign investment, but the rise of temporary checks signals ongoing challenges in balancing open borders with security and migration management.
38 Articles
38 Articles
The Local - Ch
Which European countries currently have Schengen border checks in place?
The borderless Schengen travel area recently celebrated its 40th anniversary but many countries currently have border checks reinstated. Here's what travellers should expect.
A ceremony is held on Saturday 14 June in Luxembourg to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Schengen area. Forty years after its creation, this area of free movement is undermined by the return of border controls in some countries, in the name of the fight against illegal immigration.
The Local - Es
Schengen hits 40: What problems lie ahead for Europe's border-free zone?
The borderless Schengen area guarantees free movement to tens of millions of EU citizens, residents and visitors. To mark its 40th anniversary Claudia Delpero explains how it all started and the problems it faces.
On a ship in Schengen, the EU Interior Ministers celebrated the historic decision to abolish border controls, but only one kilometer further away, the Federal Police waved out cars.
In the case of Schengen, EU countries have criticised German border controls, which are "against the spirit of Schengen", for example from Luxembourg.
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