Schengen Border Controls: Challenges and Policy Options

Análisis en profundidad 15-06-2016

This compilation paper revisits the Schengen set up including recent developments triggered by both the migration crisis and terrorism, and subsequently presents and qualifies expert estimates of the potential economic impact stemming from the introduction of ID-checks, including a case study on the very key transport sector. Estimates by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy point at a burden on EU citizens and firms of between €7 and €14 billion for the entire EU. TML-Leuven assessed the cost for transport users of reinstating border controls in the entire Schengen area to amount between €2.5 billion and €5 billion annually (waiting times 10-20 minutes for passenger cars and 30-60 minutes for lorries). Effects, however, could prove much more costly if e.g. fullfledged border controls are permanently re-introduced. This paper has been prepared by the Policy Department A at the request of the European Parliament's Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO).