EU Marks 40 Years of Schengen with Cross-Border Mobility Campaign

On 24 October 2025 the European Commission’s DG HOME launched a digital campaign celebrating four decades of the Schengen Agreement, featuring influencers who document passport-free travel between France, Spain and neighbouring countries. The initiative aims to highlight the daily benefits of open borders at a time when some member states, including France, retain temporary internal checks for security reasons.

Videos show Spanish creator RoEnLaRed hopping between Valença (Portugal) and Tui (Spain) without controls, while Danish influencer Maja Grønholdt recounts her grandfather’s memories of pre-Schengen queues. French tourism boards are partnering to amplify the content ahead of the busy Toussaint weekend to reassure travellers that most crossings remain frictionless despite EES enrolment procedures.

For French businesses, the messaging reinforces the commercial importance of border fluidity: Schengen economies save an estimated €50 billion annually in reduced waiting times and logistics costs. Nevertheless, transport associations urge the Commission to pair the celebratory tone with funding for additional EES kiosks to prevent congestion.

Corporate mobility teams can leverage the campaign’s materials in relocation briefings to underline ease of weekend travel for assignees and their families, while setting expectations about occasional spot checks.