Written by Costica Dumbrava.
The development of the Schengen area is one of the major achievements of European integration. The removal of checks on persons at the Schengen states’ internal borders greatly facilitates the exercise of the EU freedoms of movement, which brings significant social and economic benefits.
The Schengen area has come under increased stress in the past decade, owing to multiple challenges relating to increased migration into the EU, threats to internal security and the COVID‑19 pandemic. In response to these challenges, many Schengen states decided to reintroduce checks at some or all of their internal borders. Despite the prescribed temporary nature of such measures, several Schengen states have prolonged these checks for years on end. The number of Schengen states with checks at internal borders reached its peak (18 states) during the first wave of the pandemic. In May 2025, 11 Schengen states had checks at internal borders owing to serious threats related to irregular migration and/or internal security.
The Schengen area has expanded gradually in the past three decades and is now composed of 29 countries. In January 2025, Bulgaria and Romania were the latest two countries to fully join the Schengen area, 18 years after their accession to the EU. Cyprus is also legally bound to join the Schengen area, but the evaluation procedure for its full accession is still ongoing.
This briefing presents key recent figures and developments in the Schengen area, focusing on the Schengen states’ measures to reintroduce checks at internal borders, and on the current situation regarding the completion of the Schengen area. This is an update of a briefing originally published in December 2023.
Read the complete briefing on ‘State of the Schengen area‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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