On 14 June 2025, the Schengen Agreement celebrates its 40th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the jubilee conference “40 Years of Schengen: People, Borders, Politics” was held on 11 June 2025 in Luxembourg.
The event was organized by the UniGR-Center for Border Studies in cooperation with the European Migration Network (EMN) Luxembourg.
The conference brought together political, academic, and civil society actors to discuss the past, present, and future of Schengen. Panel discussions explored the challenges and opportunities of Schengen from various perspectives and across different European regions. Particular focus was placed on the resilience of the Schengen Area and ways to strengthen it moving forward.
The event was opened by Léon Gloden, Luxembourg’s Minister of the Interior, who emphasized Europe’s shared responsibility to keep Schengen alive through cross-border cooperation. Following the introductory statements, Marie-Hélène Jobin, Vice-Rector for Partnerships and International Relations at the University of Luxembourg, and Tom Snels, Head of Unit Home.B2 – Schengen Governance at the European Commission, took the floor to share their perspectives.
The highlight of the day was the keynote speech by Robert Goebbels, one of the original signatories of the 1985 Schengen Agreement. In his address, he underlined the importance of a united Europe, stating: „Une Europe heureuse, ce n’est pas une Europe poreuse“.
Photos : EMN