EU Charts Digital Future for Schengen Borders in 2025 Report
Brussels, May 2025 — The European Commission has published the Fourth State of Schengen Report, underlining key developments and future plans aimed at strengthening border security and streamlining travel within the EU.
A major focus of the report is the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)—two critical components designed to modernize the management of the EU’s external borders and mitigate security risks.
Labeling Schengen as “the backbone of the EU’s internal market,” the report stresses the importance of transitioning from traditional physical checks to digital border systems. It reiterates the Commission’s earlier proposal for a gradual deployment of the EES over a six-month period, giving Member States and eu-LISA (the EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems) the flexibility to tackle remaining implementation challenges before full-scale rollout.
The Commission has called on the European Parliament, the Council, Member State authorities, and eu-LISA to expedite efforts and ensure the timely execution of both EES and ETIAS. A new timeline for their implementation was endorsed by the Schengen Council in March 2025.
In line with the EU’s broader push for border digitalisation, the report also outlines a roadmap for digital travel documents, including the development of a mobile app to simplify border checks. This effort follows a proposal made last October to introduce common standards for digital travel credentials across the EU.
Significant strides are also being made in modernizing visa procedures for third-country nationals. The EU aims to begin developing its visa application platform in 2026, with the goal of launching digital visas by 2028. The related legislative processes are currently underway.
Beyond policy and technical updates, the report notes that the Schengen Area remains the world's most visited region, welcoming over 500 million visitors annually. Security has improved as well, with irregular border crossings falling to their lowest levels since 2021. The partial accession of Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen has also been highlighted as a move that strengthens the EU economy.
As the EU advances its digital agenda, the Commission continues to emphasize the need to balance innovation with the protection of fundamental rights and security standards.
Source: Schengen.News
