MEPs want to revive the Schengen Area

In the face of the migrant crisis and terrorist threats, some European countries have re-introduced internal border checks, although to do so goes against the principles of the Schengen area and threatens the freedom of movement of European citizens. MEPs condemned these controls in their annual report on the state of Schengen, which was adopted on 30 May with 439 votes in favour, 157 against, and 80 abstentions.

Among the countries singled out by the report is Italy, which closed its border with Austria at Germany’s request. A few days later, in 2015, Germany followed suit. The domino effect spread to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which also wanted to control the flow of migrants from the Austrian border (and the Hungarian border in the case of Slovakia).

France also established border checks as a result of the terrorist threat on its territory since 2015. These controls have been allowed to remain in place several times (the latest was prolonged until April 2018), although, in theory, the derogation cannot last longer than two years. The border between France and Italy is particularly prone to checks, mainly to control the flows of migrants within the Schengen area. The border in northern Italy has also seen a recent increase in migrants from North Africa crossing mountain passes to reach France. The re-establishment of border checks has allowed for a majority of migrants to be sent back to Italy, due to the Dublin Regulation.

The Parliament also reiterated support update-for Bulgaria and Romania’s immediate accession to the passport-free Schengen area, and the accession of Croatia as soon as it fulfils the criteria for joining. All of these potential members have suffered setbacks with the reintroduction of internal border checks since 2015. But the opposition is not silent: some MEPs argued that modern Europe is not like that of 1985 and cannot continue to defend an area of free movement without adapting its resources to meet the cross-border terrorist threats and organised crimes which are ever-present.

Source: Euractiv