Reactivation of border controls inside Schengen Area: what is happening?
The Schengen Agreement, a cornerstone of European integration, allows for passport-free travel across 27 countries. However, this system has faced recent disruptions due to persistent security threats, migration pressures, and geopolitical developments. Several member states have, as a reaction, reintroduced internal border controls, despite these measures being exceptions under the Schengen Borders Code (SBC).
Reasons for Suspensions
Temporary border checks within the Schengen Area are typically justified by serious threats to public policy, internal security, or extraordinary circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic. Current justifications include:
Terrorism and Security Threats: Many countries cite risks related to terrorist infiltrations, particularly via migration routes, as seen in Italy and Germany.
Irregular Migration and Smuggling: The Balkan and Mediterranean routes remain major concerns, driving nations like Austria and Slovenia to enhance controls.
Hybrid Threats: Ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine has heightened concerns about espionage and sabotage, particularly in nations like Norway and Denmark.
Countries Reintroducing Border Controls
Austria: Extended checks until May 2025 along borders with Hungary and Slovenia, citing irregular migration and smuggling.
Germany: Controls with Austria, due to migratory pressures and security risks, are in place until March 2025.
France: Border checks with Belgium, Luxembourg, and other neighbors focus on tackling smuggling and organized crime through April 2025.
Italy: Reinforced controls until mid-2025 along its Slovenian border due to risks from migration routes.
Slovenia: Recently extended its border controls with Croatia and Hungary until late 2024, citing the need to manage migration and improve security. Joint patrols with neighboring countries have been proposed as a long-term solution to replace full border checks.
Netherlands: Introduced checks as of December 2024, citing pressures on asylum systems and increased criminal incidents.
Norway and Denmark: Both extended controls citing hybrid threats, such as sabotage linked to Russian actions.
Schengen Code Reform
To address evolving challenges, the European Union has revised the Schengen Borders Code, enabling:
- More robust external border measures to manage migration.
- Clearer frameworks for temporary internal border controls, including defined time limits and enhanced oversight.
- Enhanced cross-border police cooperation as an alternative to physical border checks.
These reforms aim to strengthen Schengen’s resilience while ensuring that internal border controls remain exceptional and proportional.
Implications
Temporary border checks disrupt free movement, delaying traffic and impacting cross-border trade and tourism. The reintroduction of internal controls, while legally allowed, raises concerns about the fragmentation of the Schengen Area, one of Europe’s most significant achievements. Balancing security with the freedom of movement remains a pressing challenge for EU policymakers.
Still, these extraordinary measures will not affect in any sort of way people entering Schengen Area from abroad since border controls, both for citizens and visitors, are always mandatory in such cases.
ETIAS travelers, therefore, have no reason to concern about the ongoing policy shift since they will not be affected and since such changes highlight a focus towards a more secure mobility in Europe.
Conclusion
The Schengen Agreement faces critical tests as member states grapple with unprecedented security, migratory, and geopolitical pressures. Temporary measures like internal border checks underline the need for effective EU-wide strategies to maintain the balance between free movement and national security. Recent reforms to the Schengen Borders Code are a step in this direction, aiming to preserve the integrity of the agreement while addressing modern challenges.