The European Commission called on nine Schengen countries to develop plans to gradually end internal border controls, asserting that their prolonged existence can only be justified under exceptional circumstances. This directive affects Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden, which have maintained these measures for over a year, citing public security and immigration management concerns.
Context of Border Controls
The European Commission recognizes the legitimacy of the reasons these countries have provided, yet emphasizes the need to adhere to the principles of necessity and proportionality outlined in the Schengen Borders Code. Prolonged internal border monitoring, it warns, has adverse effects on freedom of movement and the shared border areas.
Assessment of Current Measures
Despite noticeable improvements in coordination among member states, which have reduced waiting times at border crossings, the Commission argues that these results do not justify the permanent continuation of internal border checks. The availability of alternative security measures—such as irregular police inspections, mobile monitoring units equipped with biometric verification systems, and modern surveillance technologies—has been highlighted as a better approach to maintaining security without reverting to traditional borders.
Future Strategies and Reforms
The Commission has underscored the significance of ongoing European reforms, particularly the Migration and Asylum Pact and the newly implemented Entry/Exit System, alongside the anticipated ETIAS framework. These initiatives are seen as vital tools that can strengthen external border monitoring and diminish the necessity for internal controls within Europe.
Calls for Action from Member States
Brussels urges the affected countries to devise clear strategies for a gradual withdrawal from these border measures, utilizing existing European mechanisms and available regional cooperation forms. European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen emphasized that the Schengen Area stands as one of the European Union’s crowning achievements and reiterated that internal border monitoring should be temporary and exceptional. Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, noted that new European tools for border management provide member states with the opportunity to reduce these controls, especially with a decline in irregular crossings at the EU’s external borders.
