Minister of Foreign Affairs Juraj Blanár on Saturday on the occasion 40. The anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement He said that Schengen is not just a paper project, it is the result of a partnership that contributes to the quality of life of our citizens and strengthens our economies. According to the head of Slovak diplomacy, it is therefore important To return the Schengen space to its fully functional state. TASR informed the Communication Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs (MZvez) SR.
The Schengen Agreement created the basis of 14 June 1985 for the creation of a common space without internal borders in Europe. According to Blanar, in four decades, it has become the world’s largest common area of several states with free movement of persons, goods, services and capital.
“Slovakia is part of Schengen already over 17 years, which makes Slovaks and Slovaks easier to travel, study or work within Member States, companies and Slovak economy benefit from faster logistics and intensified cross -border exchange, ” declared Blanár.
MZZEZ SR noted that Schengen area is currently issued to several challenges. As a result of an increase in illegal migration The associated security threats have been temporarily restored by some Member States of the European Union on their internal borders. “For Schengen to be strong, it is better to protect the external boundaries of the Union and work on effective solutions that will have a real impact on stopping illegal migration to Europe,” said the Slovak minister.
According to Blanar, the Slovak Government consistently enforces Increasing the protection of EU external borders. In addition to the protection of the Schengen border with Ukraine, the Slovak Republic broadcasts police officers to the protection of the Schengen border of Hungary with Serbia.
The Schengen system was established in 1985 as an intergovernmental project between five countries of the European Union – Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany. Gradually expanded to become the largest area in the world that Allows free movement of persons, goods and services. Its beginnings are associated with the signature of the Schengen Agreement, which occurred on 14 June 1985. It is named after the place of signature of the document, Schengen town in southeast Luxembourg Near the border with Germany and France.
Currently, the European free movement zone includes 29 countries and 450 million Europeans. It connects 25 of the 27 Member States of the European Union (except Cyprus and Ireland) and all members of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland). The Slovak Republic became a member of the Schengen area on 21 December 2007. Over the 40 years, the Schengen area has expanded nine times, while Bulgaria and Romania have been the last countries so far to it fully joined 1 January 2025.
