The Sharp Edges of Europe: Extending Schengen Eastwards

This article discusses the impact of the EU enlargement and, in particular, of extending the Schengen regime eastwards. At the beginning Grabbe outlines briefly the linkage between so-called ’micro-security’, new myriad threats and the blurring distinction between internal and external affairs in security matters. She goes on to examine real and perceived security threats to the EU and how the EU has responded to those threats.

The main body of the article deals with EU’s internal and external border policies and the dilemmas and points of friction between the insiders, soon-to-be insiders and outsiders of the EU. Grabbe highlights the fact that EU’s border policies have major security implications for eastern Europe: disruption of bilateral relationships, transboundary cooperation and regional economic integration could have dramatic consequences for the development of EU’s neighbour states. There have already been signs of growing dissatisfaction of the outsider states whose political leaders have claimed that the EU is replacing the Iron Curtain with a paper curtain.

The article finishes off with practical policy recommendations for the EU. The recommended measures include a less restrictive approach to migration control, supplementary financial aid and political support to applicant states that are furthest from joining, involvement of applicant countries in sketching out the external policies concerning their neighbours and, finally, a development of more consistent regional strategy.

Grabbe, Heather. "The Sharp Edges of Europe: Extending Schengen Eastwards."International Affairs76, no. 3 (2000): 519-36.