{"id":5653,"date":"2020-07-10T14:23:26","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T14:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan.thatscommunication.de\/reality-trumps-populism\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T20:34:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T20:34:57","slug":"reality-trumps-populism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan.thatscommunication.de\/en\/reality-trumps-populism\/","title":{"rendered":"Reality Trumps Populism"},"content":{"rendered":"

In conjunction with the fundamental freedoms, Schengen guarantees EU citizens an unprecedented level of freedom. The Corona crisis now clearly demonstrates the impact of closed borders in a united Europe. By Stefan Hab\u00f6ck, International Officer of the Paneuropa Movement Austria. <\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In 1985, several European states signed the Schengen Agreement<\/a>, which provided for the abolition of controls at common borders and the introduction of the free movement of persons and goods. A milestone in the history of a Europe still divided between freedom and unfreedom at that time. Austria acceded to this agreement in 1995, and border controls with its EU neighbours were abolished in 1997. <\/p>\n

Schengen was not only a legal but also a politically significant step towards creating further freedoms for citizens within this community. It is no coincidence that the foundation of the most important part of the EU, the single market, is called “fundamental freedoms”. This demonstrates the intention behind deeper European integration. <\/p>\n

These fundamental freedoms encompass the free movement of services, goods, capital, and persons. The latter, in particular, represents an enormous gain for European citizens. <\/p>\n

Artificial Borders Versus Historical Connections <\/strong><\/h5>\n

Borders within Europe are mostly historically fluid. Especially in these regions, people are connected regardless of national states. Examples include Alsace and the Rhine regions, South Tyrol and Tyrol, or Western Hungary and Burgenland. Anyone who sees a “right” and “wrong” side in such culturally, historically, and economically intertwined areas, from which one would need to demarcate oneself, can only be ignorant. <\/p>\n

While the fundamental freedoms form the basis of a united Europe, Schengen goes a step further, also exempting citizens from “everyday” controls.<\/p>\n

The Myth of Schengen<\/strong><\/h5>\n

However, it is a myth that Schengen leads to “uncontrolled travel”. Opponents of the EU have always spread this untruth. In the United Kingdom, the Brexiters chose this fable as a basis for their campaign. Yet, the UK was not even a full member of Schengen! Of course, it always carried out entry controls. <\/p>\n

The Schengen system is far more complex than the reduction to “free holiday travel” suggests. As part of the “Area of Freedom, Security and Justice”, judicial cooperation in this area has been progressively strengthened and entry requirements harmonised (which transformed a mass of 27 national regulations into a manageable system). It facilitates searches and entry bans and improves information exchange. Thus, it also helps states. <\/p>\n

Suspension of Schengen Harms the Economy<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Especially during the holiday season, the advantages of Schengen are lauded. However, this is far too superficial; Schengen is not primarily a measure for stress-free excursions. Although it should be noted: the fact that Schengen symbolises travel for pleasure and whim is also thanks to the increasing number of people who can travel. This is due to the prosperity that the single market has brought us. <\/p>\n

Schengen is fundamentally an enormous relief for everyone involved in economic life! It is unimaginable what it would mean to control millions of commuters. According to a communication from the EU Commission, Schengen’s internal borders were crossed 1.25 billion times in 2017. Imagine passport controls for every single person now. For many citizens today, this is no longer conceivable. Anyone who wants an idea of this should speak to people who take a bus trip into the EU and have to endure hours at the border. <\/p>\n

The reintroduction of stationary and continuous personal controls would cause such extensive financial damage that it would de facto destroy the single market. And with it, the EU. Perhaps one reason why some opponents of European integration demand it? The single market was \u2013 rightly \u2013 made the core element of European unification. Economics is not everything, but without a functioning economy, there is no prosperity. <\/p>\n

Corona Showed What Closed Borders Mean<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The Corona crisis, which swept across Europe at the beginning of 2020, led to drastic measures by states. One of the strictest measures was the complete closure of all borders between states. This was an understandable measure given the global pandemic and the drastic forecasts. However, it must be temporary. In retrospect, the border closures clearly show the consequences that followed. <\/p>\n

Some governments prevented the export of, in some cases vital, goods to EU partner countries. Although legally compliant, this caused so much damage to European unity that it is questionable whether this trust will ever be regained. The closed borders also affected the movement of goods so severely that the EU Commission reacted quickly and introduced so-called “Green Lanes”, which allowed goods to be moved across borders more rapidly. How much tourism, a vital economic sector for many states, suffers under closed borders is also currently being witnessed. <\/p>\n

However, in addition to the economic consequences, the Corona-related border closures also reveal the fragility of two areas enormously important for society: the care sector and the food sector. Due to the closure, the work of Eastern and South-Eastern European harvest workers and care staff came to a standstill almost overnight. The UK, which had left the EU partly after a campaign against “Eastern workers”, flew in harvest workers from Eastern Europe on charter flights. <\/p>\n

In Austria, a special arrangement was worked out with Hungary, as Hungary had also kept its border closed. The government endeavoured to facilitate special trains for nurses from Romania. <\/p>\n

Reality Trumps Populism<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Within a few hours, Corona subjected the destructive campaigns of EU opponents and proponents of internal borders to a reality check and exposed them. Closed borders in a united Europe lead to economic decline, unemployment, and human suffering. Small-scale internal borders contradict the fundamental freedoms. These fundamental freedoms are the basis of success, prosperity, and freedom in a democratic, peacefully united Europe. Anyone who attacks the fundamental freedoms attacks the foundation of the EU. Corona has clearly shown this to all of us. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In conjunction with the fundamental freedoms, Schengen guarantees EU citizens an unprecedented level of freedom. 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