Schengen area: 72 % for open borders-a Europe at the turning point!

Schengen area: 72 % for open borders-a Europe at the turning point!

Schengen, Luxemburg - The Schengen area faces new challenges 40 years after its foundation. The Schengen Agreement, which was signed in June 1985 in Schengen, Luxembourg, was signed by representatives of the founding states of Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, the goal of creating a space without border controls. In 1995 the agreement was put into force and initiated the free movement of people in Europe. Today the Schengen area includes 29 countries, including 25 EU members and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Interestingly, only two EU countries, namely Ireland and Cyprus, are not integrated in the Schengen area.

public perception and trust in the EU

The European Parliament regularly carries out Eurbarometer surveys to record public opinion and to understand the concerns of Union citizens. These surveys cover a variety of topics, such as the perception of the EU, challenges and political priorities. Review of the last surveys shows that confidence in the EU has been up to date since 2007: 51 percent of Europeans state that they have trust in the EU, and this trust in young people between the ages of 15 and 24 is particularly high with 59 percent.

The latest results also show an increase in identification as an EU citizen, with 74 percent, the highest value in over 20 years. At the same time, 61 percent of the citizens are optimistic about the future of the EU. This data confirms the positive image that many people have from the European Union and its role in the world. [Europarl] provides comprehensive information about the Eurobarometer data, which were obtained from surveys under 27,000 people surveyed in all EU member states.

challenges and priorities of the EU

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

The Eurobarometer survey, which was carried out in the period from October 10 to November 5, 2024, also includes the opinions of respondents from nine applicants and the United Kingdom. In the applicant countries there are also positive developments in trust in the EU, for example with Albania, which enjoys 81 percent trust. [EC] emphasizes that the citizens consider the aspect of the stable EU to be essential and in the majority behind the measures to support Ukraine.

These developments illustrate that the Schengen area and trust in the EU are closely interwoven. The upcoming political decisions will be crucial for how both areas develop.