Poszerzenie strefy Schengen – historyczny, poruszający moment

The text discusses the historical significance of the December 2007 expansion of the Schengen Area, which integrated 9 of the 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004. It frames the removal of internal border controls as a realization of the 'four freedoms' and a step toward a unified European identity, particularly for citizens of Central and Eastern Europe who previously lived under Soviet domination. However, the author notes that this internal openness necessitates stricter external borders, raising concerns about the creation of a 'Fortress Europe' and a 'new iron curtain' affecting relations with non-EU neighbors like Ukraine.

• The expansion of the Schengen Area in December 2007 included 9 of the 10 countries that joined the European Union in 2004, increasing the zone's population by 60 million and its area by half a million square kilometers, representing a 15% increase in surface area and an 18% increase in population.
• The removal of internal border controls is presented as a symbolic and practical end to the status of Central and Eastern Europeans as 'second-class' EU citizens, providing a tangible sense of full European citizenship for those formerly under Soviet influence.
• The author argues that the freedom of movement is a fundamental pillar of European integration, evolving from an economic necessity for workers in 1957 to a general right of EU citizenship established by the 1992 Maastricht Treaty and the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam.
• The expansion of the Schengen Area creates a tension where the removal of internal borders requires the strengthening of external borders and a common visa policy, leading to fears of a 'Fortress Europe' and a 'new iron curtain' that may isolate neighbors such as Ukraine.

APA

Geremek, B. (2016). Poszerzenie strefy Schengen – historyczny, poruszający moment. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/europa-nasz-wspolny-dom/

Chicago

Geremek, Bronisław. Poszerzenie strefy Schengen – historyczny, poruszający moment. Green European Journal, 2016. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/europa-nasz-wspolny-dom/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Geremek |first1=Bronisław |title=Poszerzenie strefy Schengen – historyczny, poruszający moment |publisher=Green European Journal |date=1 March 2016 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/europa-nasz-wspolny-dom/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{geremek2016poszerzenie, author = {Geremek, Bronisław}, title = {{Poszerzenie strefy Schengen – historyczny, poruszający moment}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2016}, month = mar, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/europa-nasz-wspolny-dom/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }