Believe it or not, European integration is moving forward. Romania and Bulgaria joined the Schengen area on January 1, 2025, and controls at their land borders with the rest of the EU were lifted. This represents a rare piece of positive news at a time of deep internal political crises in both countries, as well as geopolitical and economic challenges in Europe.
However, the long-awaited expansion of Schengen to Southeast Europe illustrates its challenges. It is true that the area of free movement within the EU is being eroded from within. Ironically, the strengthening of the EU's internal borders has made it easier for Romania and Bulgaria, which met the technical criteria for Schengen entry back in 2011, to finally join.
Austria is a key piece of this puzzle. In November 2024, Vienna decided to extend border controls with Hungary and Slovenia for another six months. This helped to secure Romania and Bulgaria's Schengen applications. Austria had blocked entry from these countries due to fears of irregular migration from Turkey and the Middle East, as well as the rise of the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). The Chancellor's government Karl Nehamer she gave in to lobbying pressure Viktor Orban, a well-known opponent of migration. The deal effectively made border controls - a temporary measure under Schengen rules - semi-permanent. The extra layer of security is intended to ease concerns about Bulgaria's entry, which adds another 259 kilometers to the Schengen zone's border with Turkey.
Austrian domestic politics have also changed. After Nehammer resigned, the FPO now leads a new coalition government. They have taken responsibility for this deal and will not make a fuss about it.
Austria is no exception. In September, Germany reintroduced controls at all its land borders. The list of member states that have reintroduced at least partial controls includes Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden and Norway - which is not an EU member but is part of Schengen. Of course, this does not mean that freedom of movement within the 27-nation bloc has been abolished. However, controls and even temporary border closures have long been the exception. From the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015 to the restrictions during the Covid pandemic in 2020-21, things are moving towards states taking back control.
The pressure on Schengen goes hand in hand with the strengthening of the EU's external borders. The upcoming Polish presidency of the Council of the EU will oversee the introduction of a long-awaited entry/exit system for registering non-EU citizens in the Schengen area. The EU also plans to introduce an Electronic Travel Authorization System (ETIAS), similar to the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which the US operates for international visitors.
These measures will allow the EU to monitor the influx of people more closely. They will introduce additional administration for visitors, such as British citizens traveling on holiday to Spain. Some EU citizens will also feel the impact of these measures. In response to the EU's moves, the UK has introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation, a system similar to ETIAS.
But despite the cost, these changes have not provoked a political backlash. There has been no revolt over bureaucratic procedures or the granting of additional powers to Brussels. Simply, the zeitgeist has changed among EU residents, and border controls are popular. Eurosceptics no longer criticize the EU for its weaknesses at the borders. Instead, they want it to go further. The far right advocates strengthening Frontex, the EU's border and coast guard agency, whose former director now represents the National Front Marine Le Pen in the European Parliament.
Right-wing populists now also support collective EU solutions to other related challenges. Italian Prime Minister George Meloni In 2023, she even backed a renewed EU migration pact. Viktor Orban, who is not a supporter of the pact, has advocated closer relations between the 27-member bloc and Turkey. In late 2024, the Hungarian leader visited President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss potential negotiations on Ukraine, but also on Syria after Bashar al-Assad. There is no doubt that Orban will support the renewal of the 2016 refugee agreement with Turkey, given that the EU has concluded a similar agreement with Egypt worth 7,4 billion euros. The expansion of Schengen to the Bulgarian-Turkish border will serve as an argument for Brussels' financial assistance to Ankara to enable the return of at least some of the 3,9 million Syrians living on Turkish territory.
The focus on borders clearly reflects the defensive mentality that prevails in Europe. Not so long ago, the EU had ambitions to reshape the world in its own image. Today, the main goal is protection from threats coming from outside. The new European Commission has portfolios such as defense and economic security. Let's all hail Fortress Europe.
Article taken from carnegieendowment.org
Translated by: S. STRUGAR
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