In Brussels the Losses have been Calculated in Case of the Collapse of Schengen

• 02.12.2016, 15:52
•  Europe,  World

Сергей Коньков/ТАСС

The European Commission, in light of the growing migration crisis in Europe, warned the European Union countries about the risk of significant losses in the case of introduction of comprehensive border control and abolition of the Schengen Agreement.

Collapse of the Schengen Area may cost its members up to €18 billion, according to a document published by the EC. It notes in particular that additional border control measures will cost the EU countries €7.1 billion EUR.

As previously stated by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the already introduced restrictions will cost €3 billion per year, Deutsche Welle reports.

In addition, the EC highlighted indirect losses that will result from the cancellation of the Schengen Area rules. The first to suffer will be transportation, logistics, and labor market. Restoration of the visa regime will cause the tourism industry to lose €10-20 billion a year.

The Schengen Area is the area comprising 26 European countries that have abolished passport and any other type of border control at their common borders, also referred to as internal borders. It mostly functions as a single country for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. The Area is named after the Schengen Agreement. Countries in the Schengen Area have eliminated border controls with the other Schengen members and strengthened border controls with non-Schengen states.

As a result of the on-going migration crisis and terrorist attacks in Paris, a number of countries have temporarily reintroduced controls on some or all of their borders with other Schengen states. As of February 6, 2016 Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden have imposed controls on some or all of their borders with other Schengen states.