Summary

The Schengen Area, a cornerstone of EU integration allowing free movement across 27 countries, faces increasing strain as internal border checks become widespread.

Germany has expanded border controls to all neighboring countries, citing high migration levels, while France and the Netherlands also enforce checks.

Though the Schengen framework views such controls as exceptions, some nations have extended them for years, challenging EU principles of free movement.

Despite plans to welcome Bulgaria and Romania as full Schengen members in 2025, ongoing debates over migration policy and uneven burden-sharing challenge the vision of a borderless Europe.