European Commission - Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations

06/13/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/13/2025 10:08

Schengen celebrates 40 years

The Schengen area connects people, countries, cultures, and businesses. 450 million people living in the 29 countries of the Schengen area can freely travel, study and work throughout Europe.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the signature of the Schengen Agreement. During the last four decades, Schengen has shaped how we live, work, do business and travel every day.

Schengen is more than a geographical zone: it is a cornerstone of European identity and a strategic asset for Europe.

Schengen means:

Freedom: 450 million people travel without passport control for work, study and tourism.

Security: countries work together to protect external borders, fight crime and manage migration.

Economic prosperity: no border checks mean easier trade, lower costs and more jobs.

Celebrate 40 years of Schengen

Share the information about the Schengen and its benefits and bring the celebration to every corner of the Schengen area! Our communication kit, which includes materials to help you raise awareness and celebrate this special occasion, is available online: Celebrate 40 years of Schengen

Learn more about Schengen:

  • Schengen area
  • History of Schengen
  • Schengen Cycle
  • Schengen Evaluation and Monitoring

Details

Publication date
13 June 2025
AuthorDirectorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood
European Commission - Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations published this content on June 13, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 13, 2025 at 16:08 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io