Threats to the continuity of the Schengen Agreement: the impact of nationalism and populism on free movement across Europe

This thesis aims to investigate the role of the Schengen Agreement in relation to the rise of nationalist and populist movements in Europe. Over the past decade, these movements sharply criticized the effectiveness of the agreement, holding it accountable for security and migration issues that threaten national sovereignty and European integrity. Therefore, the thesis aims to illustrate the extent to which these dynamics have affected the implementation of the Schengen Agreement. In this context, the research shows that the rise of nationalist and populist movements has not only had an impact on politics, but also on the broader public discourse, causing the continuation of the agreement to falter several times. In response, the EU has undertaken countermeasures in several fields of its competence, to create a balance between security management and the principle of free movement. First, an overview of the Schengen Agreement is provided, along with a close look at some major crises that have tested its resilience. This thesis then assesses the challenges posed by nationalist and populist movements, defining their role in EU politics and analyzing the narratives they use to undermine Schengen’s principles. This section will illustrate how nationalist and populist movements affect public opinion and policy making in relation to the Schengen Agreement. This research will then evaluate the impact of these arguments on the agreement and consider asymmetries in the implementation of Schengen rules. The last part of the research will discuss EU countermeasures to address threats to the Schengen Agreement, outline possible future developments, and underscore the relevance of the agreement to the future of the European Union.