In 2022, the Commission established the annual Schengen Cycle, to improve strategic and operational coordination on Schengen matters. It ensures the smooth functioning and continuous improvement of Schengen by providing a structured framework for assessing how Schengen countries implement and comply with common rules. This allows to maintain high standards of security, and effective border management, ensuring that the benefits of Schengen – free movement, safety, and cooperation – are safeguarded for all.
The Schengen Cycle includes several tools which allow the Schengen Council to swiftly identify key challenges and set priority actions at both national and European levels. These tools guarantee regular ‘health-checks’ on the state of Schengen, identify risks impacting the Schengen area and ensure the effective implementation of the agreed rules.
State of Schengen
The State of Schengen, published annually by the European Commission, marks the start of the Schengen Cycle. It assesses how Schengen countries are implementing key policies, highlights challenges, and identifies areas for improvement.
The 2025 State of Schengen report, adopted on 23 April 2025 by the Commission, provides a comprehensive assessment of the functioning of the Schengen area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers. It is the Commission’s contribution to the June Schengen Council which will celebrate 40 years since the signature of the Schengen Agreement, which set out an ambitious vision for a united European continent of freedom and security.
In the face of rising geopolitical and security challenges, Schengen stands out as a European strategic asset. Originally conceived as a geographical area without internal border controls, Schengen today is much more than an area: it is a pillar of Europe’s collective preparedness by providing common tools, expertise, and shared resources to address emerging threats.
The 2024 Schengen evaluations revealed that, while the foundations of Schengen remain robust, certain persistent gaps remain in critical areas. As travel increases, we must ensure that we are ready to welcome people across our borders in a way that is both efficient and secure. Irregular migration and cross-border crime remains a complex and evolving issue, and the changing security landscape requires a more unified approach where border, immigration and law authorities move beyond isolated efforts and work together seamlessly as a coordinated force.
To address these challenges, the 2025/2026 Schengen cycle will focus on:
- Accelerating the implementation of the digitalisation framework to ensure the timely rollout of the Entry/Exit System and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, maximising existing information tools for border control, migration, and security. Continued investment in research and innovation is key to ensuring Schengen’s future security with European solutions.
- Shifting to an integrated and coordinated security approach with a common intelligence picture, joint operational actions and stronger cooperation among law enforcement authorities, including in internal border regions. Controls must be placed where they are most effective: at the external border and in cooperation with Schengen members and partners.
Implementing these priorities will enable Schengen to build on the legacy of unity created over the past 40 years and strengthening the European Union as a project that delivers on opportunities and security.
Schengen Scoreboard
The Schengen Scoreboard is a key tool of the Schengen cycle, visualising the level of implementation of recommendations resulting from Schengen evaluations. It aims at increasing the political visibility of the results from the Schengen evaluations, improving overall transparency. The Schengen Scoreboard helps Member States to identify areas in which they need to concentrate their efforts to boost implementation of the Schengen rules and supports policy coordination in and follow-up by the Schengen Council.
In 2023, the Commission, together with Schengen countries, established a common and objective methodology for the Schengen Scoreboard. This tool is delivered annually to the Ministers of Home Affairs.
The fourth Schengen Scoreboard was provided in December 2024 and the key horizontal assessment was reflected in the 2025 State of Schengen report.
The 2024 December Schengen Scoreboards revealed that while Schengen rules are generally implemented adequately, the pace of addressing recommendations remains slow. Many longstanding deficiencies persist across several Member States, particularly in core areas of the Schengen framework. On average, the implementation rate of open recommendations ranges between 55% and 60%.
Find out more in the Annex 1 of the 2025 State of Schengen report.
Schengen Council
The Schengen Council plays a key role in overseeing the functioning and political governance of the Schengen area. It brings together Ministers of Home Affairs from all Schengen countries to coordinate policies, address key challenges, and ensure the proper implementation of the Schengen rules. The Schengen Council also helps ensure a coordinated response to current and future challenges.
Since 2022, the Schengen Members meet regularly to discuss their shared responsibilities and challenges, as well as to coordinate joint measures to common challenges affecting the Schengen area.
To guide the Schengen Council’s political discussions, the European Commission presents the Schengen Barometer+, which offers an overview of the key factors impacting the stability of Schengen. The Commission regularly presents the Barometers during the March and the October Schengen Council meetings.
The Schengen Barometer+ provides a situational picture and analysis of the state of the Schengen area on the basis of key indicators (situation at the external borders, migratory situation, internal security, situation at the internal borders). It allows to identify vulnerabilities, risks and operational gaps which require a joint EU response, steering the political decision-making at the Schengen Councils.
Over the 2024-2025 Schengen Cycle, the Schengen Barometer+ has provided a regular overview of the main factors having an impact on the Schengen area, consolidating Schengen’s situational analysis. This information enhances preparedness and policy development, for example on combating drugs trafficking, visa and return.
Two foundational principles are at the basis of a fully functioning Schengen: mutual trust and shared responsibility. Shared responsibility to uphold the rights and security of all people across the Schengen area. Mutual trust among Schengen countries that every part of the Schengen system is managed competently and effectively in line with high common standards.
Schengen cooperation allows to achieve together what none could accomplish alone.
Common standards to tackle irregular migration, to combat organised crime and counter terrorism, and to fight smuggling need to be strictly adhered to, while ensuring adequate protection of fundamental rights. Effective enforcement mechanisms, and a coordinated effort at all levels are essential for sustainable cooperation among Member States.