Border controls in the Schengen area strike at the heart of the EU project

Reintroducing internal border controls is no answer to disputes between European states: it deeply disrupts the daily life of border communities

The European Free Alliance is seriously alarmed about the increasing tendency towards reintroducing internal border controls in the Schengen area. Several EU member states have recently introduced stricter controls on their borders, including Germany ahead of the Brandenburg election. These measures, even if presented as temporary, are a direct threat to the core values of the EU and the development of the European project. Following the Commission statement and the debate in the EU Parliament this week, EFA wants to voice our concerns, and not let this topic fade away.

Restricting the free movement within the Schengen area not only affects the internal market and the economy of the EU. It also deeply disrupts the daily life of many European citizens, especially those who live near the borders. As Commissioner Johansson stated, “30% of the EU population live near an internal border”. Moreover, there are many European communities, such as the Frisians or the Catalans, that are divided by state frontiers. These border controls are one more example of how centralistic EU states are putting the interests of their capital cities before the needs of their whole populations.

This situation has to end soon. Europe cannot afford any threats to internal free circulation. Undermining the rights of bordering communities is no solution to disputes between states. EU member countries have to coordinate better and decide their policies together, avoiding internal misadjusments affecting the Schengen area. We want a Europe for all, a Europe that protects and prioritises citizens’ rights over states’ interests.