On the verge of collapse: EU ministers to decide fate of the Schengen Agreement

A meeting of ministers of the EU member states started in Monday, January 25th. It is devoted to the fate of the Schengen Agreement. The migration crisis that Europe faced in 2015 has called into question the basic principles on which the European Union was founded. The free movement of people between EU Member States can be revoked for 2 years.

Foundations of the EU start to crack

The basis of agreements between EU member states is "the principle of the 4 freedoms": freedom of movement of capital, free movement of goods, freedom of movement of services and freedom of movement of people. The last one de facto no longer works, since the Austrian government has suspended participation in the Schengen agreement and resumed passport controls at its borders.

The Domino Effect

The migration crisis and related problems, which began in 2015, have forced some EU states to introduce security checks on its borders, including with other EU member states. Such a decision was taken by the authorities of Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Norway, who is not a EU member, but part of the Schengen zone. According to EU rules, the temporary introduction of passport controls in the Schengen area is only possible for up to 30 days. Chances are high that the regime of inspection on the borders of these countries will be extended for a longer period, which requires legislative registration.

Another Decline of the West

The response of the EU to the challenge of the influx of migrants is extremely sluggish and belated. In fact, the current situation and the actions of the countries of Western Europe can be compared to the behavior of the authorities on the eve of the final collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Having lost its civilizational and cultural identity, the elite of the empire was not able to unite the population under the blows of the barbarians who came from the East. In Europe, millions of migrants are already against both the authorities and the Western way of life in general. A scenario where armed clashes take place between the local population and migrants is possible. The outcome will most likely be in favor of the latter, as the migrants are united, aggressive and willing to take decisive action. Such collisions can lead to full-scale war and a deep reformatting the continent.

The obvious signal

The Schengen Agreement and its principles, along with the single currency, is the most obvious symbol to a layman of European integration. Its cancellation, and even suspension, sends a signal both inside and outside the EU that the liberal project of integration of the continent has failed, and we can expect profound changes in the near future in the lives of the countries involved in the process.

EU
Crisis
Migration
Schengen