Austria's Schengen border checks continue after 11 years amid migrant crisis

Austria's ongoing internal border checks along its frontier with Slovenia, a measure initially conceived as a temporary exception to Schengen rules, have now persisted for nearly eleven years. The migrant crisis has once again placed the Schengen Area under scrutiny, with nine member states reportedly maintaining internal border controls, as per European Commission data.

Germany, for instance, has declared its intention to continue border checks beyond September, asserting that these measures contribute to curbing illegal migration. In contrast, Slovenia was the sole country to comply with the European Commission's recommendation by lifting controls at its borders with Croatia and Hungary in June.

Brussels is now pinning its hopes on a new pact concerning migration and asylum. The expectation is that this agreement will facilitate a return to the original spirit of Schengen, characterized by unrestricted travel within the zone and the elimination of internal border surveillance.