Today, the European Union celebrates an important moment that changed the daily lives of millions of people: the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement.

Signed exactly 40 years ago, on June 14, 1985, in a small village in Luxembourg, the agreement abolished internal border controls and paved the way for one of the European Union's most visible achievements: free movement across much of the continent.

At the time, only five countries — Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands — dared to imagine a Europe without border queues and passport controls.

Four decades later, their vision has become a reality, with over 400 million people traveling, living, and working freely in 29 countries.

On the anniversary, Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak reminded Europeans that Schengen is more than open borders and shared databases:

“If we want Europeans to support the EU, they must see that the values they hold dear, especially with regard to freedom, are preserved and respected.”

For millions of people who once lived behind the Iron Curtain, the right to travel freely remains one of the most tangible promises of the EU that has been kept.

This year, the anniversary has special significance for Bulgaria. After 13 years of technical preparation and political obstacles, Bulgaria — together with Romania — is now a full member of the Schengen area.

Recently, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Bruner called 2025 “a key year for Schengen,” celebrating Bulgaria's “well-deserved inclusion” and emphasizing that Schengen's success is due to continuous work: close cooperation between police forces, joint border management, and standardized training for officers.

In four decades, the idea of Schengen has evolved from a symbolic agreement into one of the EU's most important achievements. Millions of people cross borders every day without any problems. EU citizens can visit, live, and work anywhere in the bloc with minimal bureaucracy. For Europe, Schengen has boosted tourism, made goods cheaper, and opened up opportunities for learning and working that few could have imagined in 1985.

But preserving this freedom requires vigilance. Commissioner Bruner outlined three priorities for the future of Schengen: stronger external borders with modern systems and infrastructure; a stable migration system with clear rules and cooperation with countries outside Europe; and better tools for law enforcement agencies to counter threats that cross borders as freely as people.

Forty years ago, Europe chose openness over division. With the full accession of Bulgaria and Romania, that choice remains alive and stronger than ever. | BGNES