40th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement
The anniversary should not be a “mourning ceremony”, but a “big party” – this is how the Luxembourg Minister for Home Affairs in January 2025 envisioned the upcoming 40th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement.* 40 years ago, it initiated the gradual abolition of controls at the EU’s internal borders and has proven to be a European success story ever since. The agreement, which was concluded on 14 June 1985, initially between Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the Federal Republic of Germany, has been signed by 29 countries to date.
"We must not allow the 40th anniversary of Schengen to become a mourning ceremony this year. It must be a big party!"
Léon Gloden
Luxembourg Minister for Home Affairs
An EMN Luxembourg and UniGR-Center for Border Studies joint conference
The EMN Luxembourg and the UniGR-Center for Border Studies invite stakeholders, practitioners, researchers and citizens to celebrate the round anniversary of the Schengen Agreement but also to reflect on it critically in light of current developments. By increasingly introducing temporary controls at the EU’s internal borders, the Schengen countries have been calling into question the European achievement of open borders. Is the European Schengen spirit about to be replaced by a national border spirit? And what would this mean for the future of Europe, its citizens, and border regions?
* Source: ZDFheute, 18.01.2025
When?
11 June 2025
Where?
2-4 Rue Pierre Hentges, 1726 Bonnevoie-Nord-Verlorenkost Luxembourg (Chambre des Salariés)
Working languages?
English and French (translation will be provided)
Whom to contact?
Zane Rozenberga (EMN Luxembourg) – zane.rozenberga@uni.lu
Denise Rodrigues Marafona (UniGR-Center for Border Studies) – denise.rodriguesmarafona@uni.lu
How to register?
Registration is mandatory. A registration link will be provided in due time.
Please note that places are limited!
