The Schengen Area, commonly known as the Schengen Zone is one of the greatest achievements of the European Union – enabling borderless travel within most of Europe for over 400 million citizens. Established in 1995, the Schengen Area has grown to encompass most EU states and even some non-EU members under a common visa and security agreement.
Area Inforamtion and Growth
The Schengen Area is named after the town of Schengen in Luxembourg. It started in 1985 with the signing of the Schengen Agreement between five European nations – Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands and West Germany. This agreement established the gradual abolition of common border checks between member countries.
Over the years, the Schengen Area has expanded through several accessions to encompass:
Founding Members in 1995
Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, West Germany
Accessions in 2007
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
Accessions in 2008
Switzerland
Accessions in 2011
Liechtenstein
Accessions in 2007 & 2011
Austria, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
Accessions in 2012-22
Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania
As of February 2024, the Schengen Zone has 26 European states as members including 4 non-EU states (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein). Together they encompass a population of over 420 million citizens.
Key Elements of the Schengen Agreement
The key pillars of the Schengen agreement are:
Borderless Travel
Citizens, residents and visitors can travel between Schengen countries without any passport checks or border controls. Internal borders are essentially abolished.
Common Visa Policy
The Schengen Visa allows visitors from approved countries to travel freely within the Schengen Zone with a single visa without additional documentation.
Cross-Border Surveillance
Improved cross-border surveillance mechanisms through Schengen Information System (SIS) for tracking wanted or missing persons and stolen objects.
Common Security Standards
Harmonization of security protocols, transport checks, common police databases to maintain high internal security.
Recent Developments
As the de-facto travel zone in Europe today, some recent developments around the Schengen area include:
- Enhanced border security through drone surveillance systems, biometric tracking mechanisms
- Debate around admission of new EU members – Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia
- Increasing challenge of irregular migration and human trafficking across porous borders
- Discussion on creating a common EU Migration and Asylum policy to share burden
- Upgrading of the SIS database to include facial recognition and digital fingerprints
Challenges Facing the Schengen Zone
While borderless travel has benefited business travel, tourism and cultural exchange within Europe, concerns around security, immigration control and socioeconomic disparities between member countries have emerged:
Migration Crisis
The European migration crisis of 2015-16 severely tested the Schengen system as over 2 million migrants entered Europe illegally. It triggered the temporary re-introduction of internal border controls.
Rise of Terrorism
Violent extremist attacks in France, Belgium and Nordic countries exposed weaknesses in security cooperation mechanisms between Schengen states.
Socioeconomic Disparities
Poorer eastern European countries have witnessed high emigration after joining the Schengen zone leading to brain drain issues.
As the Schengen project faces pressure from nationalist political factions across Europe, preserving borderless travel will require addressing these underlying challenges around equitable growth, shared security and protection of human rights.
The Future of the Schengen Area
Currently accounting for over 1/3rd of global tourist arrivals, the future priorities for the Schengen Area include:
- Creating an EU-wide common migration and asylum governance framework
- Enhancing security cooperation through real-time alert systems and joint cybersecurity units
- Building integrated border surveillance programs including satellite tracking
- Facilitating legitimate travel by reducing Schengen visa waiting periods using digital systems
If external risks are managed prudently in the future, the Schengen Area promises to be the blueprint for multilateral cross-border cooperation worldwide in the 21st century through its unique borderless ecosystem.
Key Statistics of Schengen Area (February 2024)
| Parameter | Value |
| Number of Member States | 26 |
| Schengen Area Population | >420 million |
| Schengen Visas Issued (2023) | ~3 million |
| Airports with Schengen Access | >300 |
| Rail Stations with Schengen Access | >1300 |
| Annual Cross-Border Road Traffic | 1.7 billion journeys |