Juncker Warns of Schengen Collapse as Border Checks Become 'New Normal'

Schengen's Founding Vision Under Threat as Border Controls Spread

Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has issued a stark warning about the future of Europe's Schengen zone as it prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary on June 14. The architect of borderless travel expressed grave concerns that temporary border controls implemented by 10 of 27 EU member states risk becoming permanent fixtures.

'Particularly Painful' Impacts on Daily Commuters

Juncker singled out Germany's reinforced border checks with Luxembourg as especially disruptive, noting that tens of thousands of daily cross-border commuters face "particularly painful" disruptions. The former Luxembourg prime minister stressed these measures directly contradict the Schengen Agreement's founding principles signed in 1985 by five nations.

Anniversary Celebrations Overshadowed by Political Tensions

The upcoming anniversary commemorations in Schengen, Luxembourg will occur under a cloud of political uncertainty. Juncker admitted attending with "one laughing and one crying eye" as populist movements gain ground across Europe. Key concerns include:

• Germany's September 2024 decision to reinstate border controls citing migration concerns
• Recent Polish election results favoring right-wing candidates
• Growing normalization of border checks among traditionally pro-EU governments

Germany's Pivotal Role in Schengen's Future

Juncker emphasized Germany's special responsibility as an EU leader, warning that if Berlin makes border controls permanent, less EU-enthusiastic nations will follow. "When Germany breaks the Schengen logic," he cautioned, "others will do the same." The remarks come as the Schengen area now encompasses 29 countries and 420 million citizens.

Call for United European Response

The former Commission president urged comprehensive EU-level discussions about migration management and external border security. He stressed that without immediate action, the Schengen system - which he called "the completion of the European dream" - risks becoming obsolete. Juncker's intervention highlights growing tensions between national security concerns and the fundamental right of free movement within Europe.