The Schengen Space: Free movement in Europe

The Schengen Space is one of the greatest achievements of European integration, allowing the free movement of people between member countries without the need to pass through internal border controls. This agreement has transformed the way people travel, work and live in Europe, facilitating tourism as well as commercial and personal activities.

What is the Schengen Space?

The Schengen Space is an area made up of European countries that have eliminated border controls at their common borders. This means that a person can travel between these countries as if moving within a single nation, without having to show his or her passport at each border.

It was established by the Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985 in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, and began to be implemented in 1995. Although it is closely linked to the European Union (EU), not all EU countries are part of the Schengen area, nor do all Schengen countries belong to the EU.

Which countries are part of the Schengen Space?

To date, the Schengen Area includes 30 countries, of which 26 are members of the European Union and 4 are not (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). Some EU countries such as Ireland and Cyprus are not part of the full area or have exceptions.

Benefits of the Schengen Space:

Ease of travel: A traveler from a visa-exempt country needs only an ETIAS to travel to another country.

Promotion of tourism and trade: The absence of internal border controls reduces logistical costs and promotes intra-European tourism.

Shared security: Although there are no internal controls, the Schengen countries collaborate closely in security matters, through systems such as the SIS (Schengen Information System).

Challenges and controversies:

The Schengen Space is not without its challenges. Migration crises, terrorist attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic led at times to the temporary reintroduction of internal border controls. These events tested the resilience of the agreement and opened debates on how to maintain security without sacrificing freedom of movement.

Future of the Schengen Space:

The European Commission has been working on a reform of the Schengen system, focusing on improving external border management, digitizing visas and strengthening police cooperation. Despite political tensions, most European countries continue to regard the Schengen Space as a symbol of freedom and continental unity.