The European Union (EU) plans to strengthen the governance of the Schengen border free zone. According to a statement released by the European Commission on Wednesday, previous steps taken in this direction resulted in a significant reduction in irregular crossings in 2024. “The EU’s intensified efforts resulted in a reduction in irregular crossings at Schengen’s external borders. Around 240,000 detections were made in 2024, the lowest level since 2021,” the report said. This number represents a 38 percent decrease compared to 2023. The EU will continue to strengthen the political and operational governance of the Schengen area, accelerate digitalization processes to prevent security risks, increase cooperation between law enforcement agencies and deepen relations with partner countries to improve border security. It is also planned to increase the effectiveness of measures to return third-country nationals who have no legal right to remain in the EU. In 2024, an increase of around 12 percent was recorded in this area. “The Schengen area will continue to evolve, adapting to new realities and responding to the changing geopolitical environment,” the report said.
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202504/24/WS6809a32da3104d9fd3821423.html
