On 23 April, the European Commission adopted its annual report on the State of Schengen. The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the functioning of the Schengen area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers. This year’s report comes at the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement.
Schengen is a strategic asset of the Union
More than a symbol of mobility, Schengen has become a strategic asset of the European Union, strengthening freedom and security for 450 million Europeans, while also promoting business opportunities and cultural growth.
Schengen is the world’s most visited destination, welcoming over half a billion visitors yearly, who enjoy safe and seamless travel thanks to the thorough work of around 120,000 border guards.
Moreover, in 2024, intensified Schengen cooperation led to a sharp decrease in irregular crossings at the common external borders and a significant increase in returns of third-country nationals with no right to stay in the Schengen area.
Investing in Schengen’s future
In the face of evolving security and geopolitical considerations, now is the moment to unlock the full potential of Schengen, with a renewed focus on Schengen preparedness. The 2025-2026 Schengen cycle will focus on the following key priorities:
- Further strengthening political and operational governance at EU and national levels, focusing on implementation, shared responsibility and accountability.
- Shifting to a more structured and comprehensive approach to security, based on closer law enforcement cooperation. Beyond immediate neighbours and internal border regions, this approach extends along the entire route of EU and Schengen candidate countries.
- Accelerating the digitalisation of procedures and systems to improve security and efficiency at the external borders and within the area without internal border controls. Key milestones to be achieved in the coming months include the timely rollout of the Entry/Exit System and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
Next Steps
The Commission will launch further initiatives to mark the Schengen Agreement’s 40th anniversary and to unlock Schengen’s potential as a European strategic asset and pillar of collective preparedness. The Commission invites the Schengen Council to discuss the 2025 State of Schengen package and endorse the priorities for the 2025-2026 Schengen cycle in June.
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