Europe’s Internal Borders Are Making a Comeback—Here’s Why

In recent years, migration pressures, the threat of terrorism, and regional conflict have made Schengen members increasingly reinstate border controls.

A police member stands guard while the border opens as Croatia enters the EU's control-free Schengen area in Bregana, Croatia, on Jan. 1, 2023. Borut Zivulovic/Reuters

Forty years after its founding, the Schengen Area has expanded into the world’s largest border-free travel zone, encompassing 29 countries and more than 450 million people.

Described in Brussels as one of Europe’s greatest achievements, Schengen embodies the vision of a modern Europe shaped in the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War, where it stands not only as a symbol of mobility but as a core element of European integration and identity.