Let us begin with a little bit of history that you may find interesting. Originally, free movement was important for the working population in Europe because of travel purposes and settlements in the EU States.
It was in 1985, when Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands endorsed the first agreement to create a zone of free movement, without internal borders. The agreement was signed in a small town in Luxembourg, named Schengen. It entered force in 1995.
Nowadays, the Schengen area includes 27 member countries. The Schengen members have abolished most border controls within the Schengen zone. This allows Europeans and visitors to freely travel while crossing the borders of the free movement zone. Unrestricted movement in the border-free Schengen territory means that every EU citizen can travel without passing border checks. Furthermore, EU citizens can easily work and settle in an EU country.
Important Visa Issues
There is a visa policy that governs the legal entrance into the EU. Visa requirements are also applied for transit areas at the airports and for not more than 90 days of stay in the Schengen Area.
It is important to note that according to the 90/180-day rule of the Schengen Area, a stay of a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period is permitted. Visas for longer periods longer than 90 days must follow national procedures. If you wish to deep dive and find out more about the importance of free movement, here is a trustworthy source.
Your short-stay visa does not imply that you will surely enter the Schengen Area. At the border controls you may be asked for additional information regarding your support, the period you intend to stay, and the reason for your visit. To receive permission to enter the Schengen State, it is recommended to present copies of the visa documents, such as letters of invitation and other types of papers that may serve as confirmation and explanation of the reason for your travel.
Visa Digitalization
Nowadays, the visa digitalization issue has arisen, as the process of visa application currently remains paper-based. The applicants still do not have the option to apply for a visa digitally through a platform, and they must travel to present the required documentation for visa approval. When the visa issuance is approved, the applicants must travel to receive it. It is obvious and can be easily concluded that the procedure is still not cost- and time-effective.
If you are eager to learn more about how the Schengen area was created, here is an interesting video:
The Significance of Security. Greatest Threats to Combat
It must be taken into account that freedom is of great importance for travelers. Apart from that, security is the other significant issue that must be reviewed. Since checks at the internal borders within the Schengen zone are abolished, it implies that security at the external borders must be carried out efficiently. The rules that govern the operations of the external borders of the Schengen Area are set in the Schengen Borders Code.
Although there are no border checks at the internal borders of the free movement zone, if there is any threat regarding the security of a member state of the Schengen zone, the member country has the option to temporarily introduce border control. Security is one of the most important issues, and this option is an opportunity for the respected authorities to manage threat and provide safety.
The possibility of introducing temporary internal border controls was of great significance during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Restrictions were applied, and there was no free movement across the borders. Because the virus was spreading fast, the necessity of strict and efficient border control checks was obvious.
Nowadays, Europeans face challenging issues that need to be resolved. Travelers should feel ensured that their freedom and security are well protected whenever they travel across the free movement zone. Below you can find a brief resume of some of the most common threats:
- One of the greatest menaces is terrorism.
- Organized crime and human trafficking are grave menaces, that the respective authorities must address by creating new strategies and ways of combating.
- The EU countries need to cooperate in their efforts to tackle drug issues.
- The fight against child sexual abuse is of the highest priority. Effective measures and strategies must be followed to protect children.
- Corruption is another essential threat to combat.
