40 years of Schengen and counting!

2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, a milestone that has brought significant benefits to over 450 million EU citizens, as well as non-EU nationals living in the EU or visiting for tourism, study, or business.

Over the past four decades, Schengen has enhanced freedom, fortified security, and opened up economic opportunities, making it a cornerstone of European identity and a strategic asset for Europe and beyond. Discover how EU Member States and Institutions commemorated this extraordinary European achievement.

Trans-regional cooperation: Building a united Europe at the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels

On 14 October, the Schengen Agreement’s 40th anniversary took centre stage at the European Week of Regions and Cities. This event brought together over 6,500 participants, including local and regional authorities, policymakers, civil society, academia, practitioners, and citizens from across Europe. Together, they shared ideas, shaped policies, and built partnerships focused on regional and urban development.

Trans-regional cooperation within the Schengen area, particularly, facilitates collaboration across borders to achieve common goals such as economic development, security, and a more integrated Europe.

Celebrating freedom of movement and borderless travel at the exclusive exhibit of the Prague airport

On 24 October, passengers at Prague Airport celebrated the Schengen Agreement's impact on border-free travel across Europe. An exhibit in Terminal 2, featuring cartoon strips created by the European Commission, showcased the transition from lengthy border checks in the 1980s to today's 29-country Schengen area.

This journey reflects a collective aspiration to overcome the divisions of the Cold War and promote unity and peace in Europe.

Economic growth and the Schengen effect: Honouring Schengen at Greece’s top commercial expo

On 10 September, the International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki, Greece’s premier annual event on trade and commerce, featured an interactive spin-the-wheel quiz to raise awareness about Schengen. The response was overwhelming, with hundreds of people of all ages, especially children and young people, showing keen interest and enthusiasm.

Organised by the European Commission Permanent Representation in Greece, the event highlighted the Schengen area’s role in fostering economic growth and prosperity: it facilitates the free movement of people, improves logistical efficiency for businesses, boosts tourism, and enables cross-border employment, benefitting the entire EU.