New article by M. Votoupalová: Schengen in crisis? Positions of member states reimposing internal border controls

We are pleased to share a new open-access publication by Markéta Votoupalová, Assistant Professor at the Department of International and Diplomatic Studies:

“Schengen in crisis? Positions of member states reimposing internal border controls”

As the Schengen Area marks its 40th anniversary in 2025, its achievements and challenges are increasingly the subject of debate. While the principle of border-free movement remains a cornerstone of European integration, the persistence of internal border controls since 2015–2016 has raised questions about the future of Schengen.

In this article, Markéta Votoupalová examines how selected European countries—Germany, Austria, France, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway—discursively frame the reintroduction of internal border controls. Drawing on crisis theory and the Discourse-Historical Approach, the study highlights significant variation in national political narratives.

The findings suggest that there is no singular “Schengen crisis.” Rather, diverse national argumentation strategies shape distinct interpretations of the situation. Importantly, these developments do not point to the collapse of Schengen, but instead indicate its ongoing transformation into a more security-oriented project.

The article is available in open access here.