ZARZALEJOS PARTICIPATES IN THE EVENT MARKING 40 YEARS OF THE SCHENGEN AGREEMENT

To mark the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement, the Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Javier Zarzalejos, took part in the commemorative event held in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg—where in 1985, five member states of the then European Community signed the agreement that laid the foundations for today’s European area of free movement.

The event was jointly organized by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the State of Luxembourg. It brought together high-level institutional representatives, including members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and several national governments. Notably, Commissioner Brunner highlighted the essential role of the Schengen Agreement in consolidating the internal market, cross-border judicial cooperation, and the tangible experience of European citizenship.

In his address, Zarzalejos emphasized that the Schengen Area is “one of the most tangible and symbolic achievements of the European project.” He noted that over 400 million European citizens benefit from freedom of movement without internal border checks, which has facilitated not only personal and professional mobility but also economic, educational, and cultural integration across the European Union.

“Schengen is not just a legal framework; it is a daily experience of shared European citizenship,” stated the LIBE Chair. “Preserving it, adapting it to current challenges, and ensuring that it remains a secure, open, and fully functional space is a shared responsibility of all institutions and Member States.”