The freedom of movement across the European Union, otherwise known as “Schengen”, is one of the EU’s most symbolic achievements, but it has come under increasing pressure since the onset of the refugee crisis. At the height of the crisis, several member states decided to temporarily reinstate internal border controls. At this Policy Dialogue, a panel of experts and stakeholders debated the current state of the Schengen Borders Code and the situation on the ground. They primarily focused on the reintroduction of border controls, the prolongation of border controls, the recent updates of the code presented by the European Commission (specifically on articles 27 and 29), and the recent request by six countries to extend border controls in spite of the reduction of the number of refugees arriving in Europe because of the EU-Turkey deal.

Speakers included: Marie De Somer, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre, Oliver Seiffarth, Deputy Head of Unit for Border Management and Schengen, DG Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission, Bent Mejborn, Head of Unit for Schengen, Visas and Borders, Secretariat General, Council of the European Union, Egert Belitsev, Counsellor on Schengen for the Estonian Presidency, Yves Pascouau, Senior Adviser, European Policy Centre