by InTrieste
The European Commission has recommended that nine European Union member states, including Italy, begin phasing out temporary border controls and restore unrestricted movement across internal borders in line with the principles of the Schengen Agreement.
In a statement released this week, the Commission acknowledged that European Union law allows member states to reintroduce border checks on an exceptional and temporary basis when faced with serious threats to public order or internal security. It also recognized that recent controls had been justified by security concerns and migration-related pressures.
However, Brussels said the current situation calls for a gradual return to normal travel arrangements within the Schengen area. The Commission urged the affected countries “to work toward progressively lifting internal border controls,” making greater use of alternative security measures and enhanced regional cooperation.
The recommendation was addressed to Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden.
The Commission said it would now consult with the countries concerned to determine how best to implement the recommendations. It also pledged to continue working with member states to ensure that temporary border measures do not undermine the long-term functioning of Europe’s passport-free travel zone.
Highlighting the economic significance of Schengen, the Commission emphasized that free movement remains a cornerstone of the European project.
“Schengen contributes significantly to the smooth functioning of the internal market and to the economic prosperity of the European Union,” the Commission said. “As goods, workers and services move freely across internal borders, cross-border regions thrive and national economies benefit from reduced administrative burdens and economies of scale.”
The recommendation drew criticism from some Italian political leaders, particularly those who support maintaining stricter border controls.
Among them was Senator Marco Dreosto of the anti-immigration League party, who serves as secretary of the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. In a statement, Mr. Dreosto called the Commission’s position “unacceptable,” arguing that current geopolitical and migration challenges require border checks to remain in place and, if necessary, be strengthened.
Referring to Italy’s northeastern region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, which borders Slovenia, Mr. Dreosto said that since October 2023 authorities had arrested hundreds of people smugglers, traffickers and fugitives. He argued that those figures demonstrate the effectiveness of border controls in improving security and combating organized crime.
Mr. Dreosto also called on the European Union to focus its efforts on strengthening the bloc’s external borders rather than reducing measures that, in his view, have proven effective.
The debate reflects a broader tension within the European Union between preserving one of its most visible achievements — the free movement of people under Schengen — and addressing security and migration concerns that have prompted several countries to reintroduce temporary border checks in recent years.
