The Schengen Area [What Think Tanks are thinking]

En bref 15-02-2016

The unprecedented migration crisis has put severe pressure on the Schengen area of 26 European countries which have abolished passport and any other type of control at their common borders. As member states reinstate border checks, some politicians predict that the Schengen area may break apart unless a solution is quickly found to manage the flow of migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Of 28 EU member states, 22 participate in the Schengen area. Of the six members that do not, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are legally obliged and wish to join the area, while Ireland and Britain maintain opt-outs. This note offers links to recent studies and reports from major international think tanks and research institutes on the state of future of the Schengen area. More papers on the migration crisis can be found in a previous edition of 'What think tanks are thinking'.