Schengen area: 72% for open borders – A Europe at a turning point!

Schengen area: 72% for open borders – A Europe at a turning point!

The Schengen area is facing new challenges 40 years after its founding. The Schengen Agreement, signed in June 1985 in Schengen, Luxembourg, by representatives of the founding states Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, aimed to create an area without border controls. The agreement came into force in 1995 and initiated the free movement of people in Europe. Today the Schengen area comprises 29 countries, including 25 EU members as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Interestingly, only two EU states, Ireland and Cyprus, are not integrated into the Schengen area.

However, the ambitions of other states to join the Schengen area are increasingly growing. A notable example is Albania, which has enjoyed visa-free travel since 2010 and has received active support for its accession ambitions. A Eurobarometer survey from October 2024 shows that 72 percent of respondents see the Schengen area as one of the EU's most important achievements, underlining the high importance of this agreement. [Kosmo] reports that opinions on open borders remain broadly divided, but interest in freedom of movement has not waned.

Public perception and trust in the EU

The European Parliament regularly conducts Eurobarometer surveys to gauge public opinion and understand the concerns of European citizens. These surveys cover a wide range of topics, such as perceptions of the EU, challenges and political priorities. A look back at the latest surveys shows that trust in the EU is at its highest level since 2007: 51 percent of Europeans say they have trust in the EU, and this trust is particularly high among young people aged 15 to 24 at 59 percent.

The latest results also show an increase in identification as EU citizens, at 74 percent, the highest level in over 20 years. At the same time, 61 percent of citizens are optimistic about the future of the EU. These data confirm the positive image that many people have of the European Union and its role in the world. [Europarl] provides comprehensive information on Eurobarometer data, obtained from surveys of 27,000 respondents across all EU Member States.

EU challenges and priorities

The most important concerns for Europeans at the moment are security and defense and migration. At a time when geopolitical tensions are rising, 76 percent of respondents say they see Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a threat to EU security. This issue is perceived by 31 percent of citizens as the most important issue at EU level, followed by immigration (28 percent) and the international situation (22 percent).

The Eurobarometer survey, conducted between October 10 and November 5, 2024, also includes the opinions of respondents from nine candidate countries and the United Kingdom. There are also positive developments in trust in the EU in the candidate countries, with Albania for example, which enjoys 81 percent trust. [EC] emphasizes that citizens consider the aspect of a stable EU to be essential and the majority support the measures to support Ukraine.

These developments make it clear that the Schengen area and trust in the EU are closely linked. The coming political decisions will be crucial for how both areas develop.