Commission greenlights Lithuania’s sixth payment request for €178 million under NextGenerationEU

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The Commission published its fifth State of the Schengen report, reviewing developments in the Schengen area over the past year and setting priorities for the year ahead. The Schengen area continues to demonstrate resilience, underpinned by collective efforts at both EU and national level.

The Schengen area is one of the European Union’s most tangible and valued achievements, enabling a more than 450 million EU citizens to travel, work, study and live freely across borders while supporting trade, tourism and freedom of movement of goods vital to the European economy, alongside strong cooperation to protect the Union’s external borders.

The 2026 State of Schengen Report highlights significant achievements during the past year. These include a better protected external border and a decrease of 26% in illegal border crossings in 2025 compared to 2024. Joint efforts also resulted in more effective returns of persons without a right to stay in the EU, with a 28% return rate in 2025 – the highest return rate in the past 10 years. A key milestone for external border protection was the full launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES) in April 2026, delivering on a stronger, more digitalised Schengen area. Already in the first 6 months of operation, Member States registered over 66 million entries and exits and 32 000 persons, who had no right to enter the EU, were refused. The Commission also adopted the EU’s first-ever Visa Strategy in January 2026.

At the same time, the report showed that challenges remain requiring actions at EU level and by Schengen States. This is particularly important in the context of today’s geopolitical environment which calls for reinforced collective responsibility to ensure that the Schengen area remains secure, united and resilient.

The priorities for the fifth Schengen cycle (2026-2027) will focus on consolidating achievements, addressing remaining gaps, and enhancing preparedness to meet current and future challenges. Work will continue in the following areas:

• Supporting Schengen’s external dimension: including with the upcoming proposal for a revised Visa Code which will address security elements of the EU visa policy. In addition, developing partnerships with key countries to attract talent for innovation and enhance the EU’s global competitiveness will also be prioritised.
• An integrated external border for a secure Schengen area: advancing the digitalisation of procedures, with the continued implementation of the new Entry-Exit System and the launch of ETIAS, the new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers. This will be further supported by the effective implementation of the Screening Regulation and reinforced contingency planning under the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
• An effective return system: Schengen states should further strengthen operational capabilities and tools to support returns, while making use of Frontex support. An effective implementation of the new return border procedure – a key feature of the Pact on Migration and Asylum – will further strengthen the EU’s return system.  The Commission will also present a legislative proposal on return digitalisation in 2026, with a view to developing digital case management systems in this area. This will further contribute to reducing the administrative workload of national authorities, simplifying and automating processes.
• Consolidating the operational framework for internal security cooperation:  through continued structured dialogue facilitated by the Schengen Coordinator with all Member States concerned or affected by internal border controls, in view of the gradual lifting of controls.
• Strengthening the Schengen governance with strategic funding under the next long-term budget (MFF) and more systematic country-specific discussions. At EU-level work should continue to complete Cyprus’ Schengen accession, to reach full implementation of the Schengen rules relevant to internal security in Ireland and to continue strong engagement with enlargement countries.

Next steps

The Commission invites the Schengen Council to discuss the 2026 State of Schengen report and adopt the 2026-2027 priorities at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in June.

Background

The Commission has been evaluating annually the State of Schengen since 2022 as part of a reinforced Schengen governance framework. This exercise marks continued delivery on the Commission’s initiative to reinforce the common governance of the Schengen area and ensure a structured, coordinated and common response to its challenges. 

For More Information

Fifth State of Schengen report

Schengen Area – benefits of Schengen

Entry/Exit System (EES)

ETIAS

Visa Strategy