Schengen is the key to freedom of travel in Europe - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

On 14 June 1985, a document was signed on board a Luxembourg excursion boat in Schengen that would fundamentally change Europe: the Schengen Agreement. What initially appeared to be an inconspicuous signing became one of the most significant achievements of European cooperation ten years later. With the abolition of border controls in 1995, travel became easier, more spontaneous and, for millions of people, a natural part of their everyday lives.

Martina Kneip, director of the Schengen Museum in Luxembourg, sees every day how much people from all over the world appreciate the openness between European countries – and how closely the history of travel is intertwined with the idea of a borderless Europe.

What did the signing of the agreement in 1985 mean to you – then and now?

Although the Schengen Agreement was signed back in 1985, it initially played hardly any role in the following ten years – even for me personally, this moment was not very tangible at the time.

The signing took place on a very small scale, on an excursion boat here in Schengen, which is now part of our museum experience. The fact that it was not high-ranking political leaders but ‘only’ state secretaries from the five founding states – Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands – who signed the agreement shows, in retrospect, how uncertain the prospects for its success were at the time. It was only with the signing of the Schengen Implementation Agreement in 1990 and its entry into force in 1995 that the agreement took concrete shape. I myself regularly crossed the border from Luxembourg to Germany via France for many years and was therefore directly confronted with the practical implications of the agreement. The abolition of border controls made life considerably easier and saved a lot of time, thus also shaping my personal experience of European integration.

Today, however, the Schengen Agreement has become an integral part of everyday life for Europeans. Like no other project, it stands for freedom of movement within Europe and is undoubtedly one of the most significant achievements of the European Union.

What role did the agreement play in European tourism?

Travelling to other countries always means crossing borders – in the truest sense of the word. For Europe, or more precisely the Schengen area, which includes most EU member states as well as four non-EU countries, this is now easier than ever before. The abolition of border controls has made travelling much easier and less complicated. Short trips to neighbouring countries in particular can now be undertaken spontaneously and without great time expenditure – a freedom that we take for granted today. For visitors from non-EU countries, the so-called Schengen visa also offers an enormous advantage: instead of numerous individual visas, a single visa is now sufficient to grant access to 29 countries – a real milestone.

Has there been a spontaneous trip or a special experience in your life that was only made possible by open travel freedom?

I live in little Luxembourg – a country where borders are part of everyday life. No matter where you are, the nearest national border is usually only a few minutes away. For us, it has become completely normal to commute regularly between countries – whether for work, shopping, visiting the authorities or simply visiting friends.

My children attended the German-Luxembourgish ‘Schengen Lyzeum’, a school on German territory. The daily journey to school across the border would have been unimaginable with systematic border controls. What is part of everyday life for us also applies to many other people in European border regions: travelling back and forth is commonplace, spontaneous and uncomplicated – without any major preparations or bureaucratic hurdles. Travel has also changed in other ways: in the past, travelling abroad involved a lot of effort and long waiting times at borders. Today, however, it is normal to simply get in the car, on the train or on a plane and travel to another country – whether for a weekend trip, a business meeting or a short holiday.

This new freedom to travel is a direct result of the Schengen Agreement – and we often no longer realise how much freedom and quality of life it brings, because it has become so normal for us.

What does ‘Schengen’ mean to you – in one sentence?

Schengen is the key to freedom of travel in Europe – an achievement that many around the world envy us for.

How did you experience the temporary reintroduction of border controls during the pandemic?

The temporary reintroduction of border controls – for example, during the pandemic – made many people realise how valuable open borders in Europe really are. What was often taken for granted before was suddenly missed. This experience prompted reflection – on freedom, mobility and the value of European cooperation. We at the museum also felt this: suddenly, more people were interested in ‘Schengen’ again – in its history, the idea behind it and its significance for their own everyday lives. Many new visitors came because they sensed that something was at stake. It is precisely this reaction that gives me hope. Because it shows that the European idea is alive – and that its achievements are not only valued, but also need to be defended.

How do you see the future of freedom of travel?

I am confident and at the same time hope that those responsible have recognised what is at stake. If we want to continue to strengthen travel to other countries and keep the European idea alive, then there can be no going back to permanent border controls. At the same time, I see risks, particularly from nationalist movements, which are regaining influence in some countries, especially at the political level. Such developments threaten not only practical freedom of travel, but also mutual understanding between people on both sides of the borders.

Borders separate not only geographically, but also mentally. This makes it all the more important to protect and further develop the achievements of the Schengen area for an open, united Europe.

In your work at the Schengen Museum, you surely encounter many visitors with very different stories – what kind of experiences or comments do you hear most often there?

Most often, we hear from foreign guests who are impressed by how closely and naturally the borders between neighbouring countries are overcome here. Many say that they are not familiar with this in their home countries – for them, this openness is something very special.

In the museum, we have a feedback wall where visitors can share their personal Schengen experiences or tell us in a few words what the ‘Spirit of Schengen’ means to them. There, they repeatedly emphasise how much they value freedom of travel, but also how fragile this privilege is. Particularly moving are the stories of people who did not grow up in an open world. Their contributions are often very emotional and show what a profound difference boundless freedom can make in everyday life.

Picture Credit: © ITB Berlin