The Schengen zone of open borders in Europe expands from 15 to 24 countries at midnight Dec. 21. Aside from easing travel within the expanded group of states, the change will have consequences for labor, travel disputes with non-Schengen states, and crime and illegal immigration.
At midnight Dec. 21, the Schengen zone of open borders in Europe expands from 15 to 24 states. Citizens of Schengen member states no longer will need passports to travel in other member states, and coordinated policies on immigration, asylum and law enforcement will come into play. Border controls with non-Schengen members will tighten even as all existing checkpoints between Schengen states will be closed down. While most Schengen states are EU members, Schengen is not an EU treaty.