The revised Schengen Borders Code – an ex-post evaluation in times of border controls (ITEM-TEIN joint study)

The core of the European Union is its internal market, built on the open borders and the free movement of people: the area of Schengen. In 2025, Schengen has existed for 40 years. “In an area where persons may move freely, the reintroduction of border control at internal borders should remain an exception. Border control should not be carried out or formalities imposed solely because such a border is crossed”, recalls recital 21 of the Schengen Borders Code. Yet, rarely has the list of notified border controls been so long.

Many of the cross-border regions at the internal borders of the EU are today faced with the reintroduction of border controls. In these areas, the (negative) impacts of such controls may be especially visible due to the high degree of integration, intensive cross-border cooperation, and the daily movement of commuters across the border. On 24 May 2024, the Council of the European Union gave its final approval to the new Schengen Borders Code, with many amendments particularly interesting for cross-border regions. Next to amendments regarding external and internal border controls, interestingly, the Code explicitly talks about “cross-border” regions (different from the term border region). By 11 January 2025, the Member States with common internal borders are asked to determine the areas of their territory considered as cross-border regions, considering the strong social and economic ties between them, and notify the Commission. Member States are also required to assess the impact of border controls to these cross-border regions.

To read the full report, go to: https://crossborderitem.eu/en/publications/the-revised-schengen-borders-code-an-ex-post-evaluation-in-times-of-border-controls-item-tein-joint-study/.