You're listening to European Parliamentary Research Service podcast on the Schengen space.

For many, Schengen is one of the EU's most important achievements. Today, we can jump on a terrain

or hop in the car to visit friends in neighbouring countries without having to show our passport at the border.

But current migratory pressures and security concerns have led several countries to reintroduce temporary border controls. Will this be the end of Schengen or will the EU manage to preserve this 30-year-long achievement?

Join us on this journey through Schengen.

It all began back in 1985 when five EU states decided to abolish internal border controls.

The Schengen area was born.

On a continent where nations once shed blood to defend their territories, today borders only exist on maps.

Nowadays, the Schengen area is made up of 26 countries, 22 EU member states, along

with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Europeans make over 1.2 billion journeys within this area every year.

Being part of the Schengen area means that countries don't carry out border checks at their

internal borders.

To protect their common space, they carry out harmonized controls at their internal borders. To protect their common space,

they carry out harmonized controls at their external borders and have enhanced police, customs and

judicial cooperation. As a result of this, both EU citizens and non-EU nationals who have the right

to do so may freely travel within the Schengen area. Apart from the advantages this has on our daily lives and societies,

Schengen also brings important economic benefits.

But Schengen is being seriously challenged by current circumstances.

The huge migratory pressure facing the EU,

multiple security concerns and problems in cross-border operational cooperation,

have raised questions regarding its efficiency and effectiveness.

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