Schengen is dead? Long live Schengen!

Jacques Delors, Antonio Vitorino and the participants of the Notre Europe2015 European Steering Committee call on the heads of state and government to both safeguard and strengthen Schengen in the face of international crises (terrorist attacks and the massive influx of asylum-seekers), in a declaration untitled 'Schengen is dead? Long live Schengen' which was published in several European media in November 2015.

After the shocking and cowardly terrorist attacks in Paris, they underline that 'we should be united to fight efficiently against the threat of terrorism, in Europe as well as abroad' and that 'our desire for security can be more effectively met within the framework of the Schengen area', particularly via an improvement of 'our ability to ensure the effective monitoring of what are now our common external borders'.

They concluded their declaration by calling 'to safeguard and to strengthen Schengen shirking the dangerous temptation to fall back on national borders - a move which would damage the people of Europe without in any way bolstering their security'.

ESO: Background information: Countries rethink commitments to accept refugees http://www.europeansources.info/record/countries-rethink-commitments-to-accept-refugees-2/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

ESO: Background information: Five nations consider mini-Schengen http://www.europeansources.info/record/five-nations-consider-mini-schengen/

Politico, 26.11.15: Schengen: going, going … gone http://www.politico.eu/article/schengen-going-going-gone-terrorism-refugees/

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