The state of the Schengen Area in the light of the 2019 European Parliament election

Abstract

This policy brief assesses the state of the Schengen area ahead of the 2019 European Parliament election. Is Schengen really in crisis? It examines this question in the light of the main policy and legal developments related to the Schengen system that have occurred during the last three years, chiefly the reintroduction of internal border checks on persons, the establishment of a common European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG) and the increasing use of border fences at the common external borders. How can these developments be understood in relation to the stage of Europeanisation characterizing EU border standards and the EU founding principles? The policy brief concludes by outlining policy priorities for the next European Parliament.