Abstract
The passport-free regime in Europe known as the Schengen Area is comprised of 26 of the 27 European Union (EU) member states plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein. Signed in 1995, the Schengen Agreement was intended to address the problem of enforcing borders between increasingly connected European countries and has expanded to include non-EU member states since then. This paper will lay out the arguments of those in favor of preserving the Schengen Area, who argue that the benefits of solidarity and free movement of people far outweigh the potential risks, as well as the most prominent criticisms of Schengen, including the perceived failures related to the 2015-2016 migration crisis, the 2015 terror attack in Paris, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The succession of different crises faced by the EU in the last few years has highlighted the fact that the Schengen Agreement is a product of a different time, and that it is in need of reforms. Whether the Schengen Area can weather these challenges and adapt will have an impact on the future and functioning of the EU as a whole.
Highlights
The Schengen Area began as an intergovernmental organization rather than a European Community project with the signing of the Schengen Agreement on 14 June 1985 by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg
This paper will lay out the arguments of those in favor of preserving the Schengen Area, who argue that the benefits of solidarity and free movement of people far outweigh the potential risks, as well as the most prominent criticisms of Schengen, including the perceived failures related to the 2015-2016 migration crisis, the 2015 terror attack in Paris, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
The succession of different crises faced by the European Union (EU) in the last few years has highlighted the fact that the Schengen Agreement is a product of a different time, and that it is in need of reforms
Summary
The Schengen Area began as an intergovernmental organization rather than a European Community project with the signing of the Schengen Agreement on 14 June 1985 by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg The purpose of this Agreement was to gradually abolish checks at the internal borders between the five countries with the intention of creating a closer union, encouraging the free movement of goods and services, and increasing the solidarity between citizens through encouraging the free movement of people (The Schengen Acquis, 1985). Academics and governments acknowledge the inherent risks that come with the non-enforcement of internal borders but argue that these risks are more than balanced out by the economic advantages offered by the free movement of people, goods, and services across participating member states, while promoting a sense of solidarity and unity between all EU citizens. The aim of this research is to examine the arguments posed by both sides in the public and academic realms, where available, and weigh the evidence to determine if the Schengen Area is worth preserving in the 21st Century
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