The 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement – from a milestone in European integration to an uncertain future

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18357/big_r71202522580

Keywords:

Schengen Agreement, Schengen Borders Code, Europe, EU, border controls, bordering processes

Abstract

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, this article explores the historical significance and contemporary challenges of a Europe with open internal borders. Although the Schengen area is widely considered to be a symbol of European integration, the reintroduction of border controls in several member states suggests that this fundamental principle is under threat. The text examines the socio-political and legal aspects of the current rebordering and questions its compatibility with the idea and law of ‘Schengen’. The authors advocate stronger legal control and greater political resilience within the Schengen area, especially considering cross-border regional interdependencies.

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Author Biographies

Julia Dittel, Saarland University

Department of European Social Research

Dominik Brodowski

Faculty of Law

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Published

2026-05-29

How to Cite

Weber, Florian, Julia Dittel, and Dominik Brodowski. 2026. “The 40th Anniversary of the Schengen Agreement – from a Milestone in European Integration to an Uncertain Future”. Borders in Globalization Review 7 (1). Victoria, British Columbia, Canada:77-82. https://doi.org/10.18357/big_r71202522580.

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Policy

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Copyright (c) 2026 Florian Weber, Julia Dittel, Dominik Brodowski

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