Suspension of the Schengen Agreement in 2026: from Italia to France, which countries have done so

Italia has suspended the agreement from 1 August to 1 September 2026. Reason: a threat to public order, internal security and the management of migration flows following recent events in the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta, caused by large-scale irregular entries by third-country nationals, with the risk of secondary movements within the Schengen area. This applies to internal air and sea borders with Spain.

Italia also has a second suspension in place, which predates the Ceuta case. It came into effect on 19 June and will end on 18 December. Reason: the persistent threat of terrorist infiltration within migration flows along the Western Balkan route, the ongoing crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, and high levels of irregular migration, including a significant presence of criminal networks involved in human trafficking and smuggling. This second suspension concerns the land borders with Slovenia.

Austria

The suspension began on 16 June and will end on 15 September. Reason: the ongoing threats to internal security posed by irregular migration along the Balkan routes (including the anticipated migratory pressure), as well as threats linked to the strain on the asylum reception system and basic services, Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and the security situation in the Middle East, exacerbated by terrorist groups and the conflict between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other. The restrictions apply to the land and river borders with the Slovak Republic and the land borders with the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Republic of Slovenia.

The Netherlands

The suspension came into effect on 9 June and will end on 30 September. Reason: a serious and persistent threat to public order caused by high levels of asylum applications, irregular migration, migrant smuggling and secondary movements, which are placing a strain on the migration and asylum systems, particularly with regard to reception capacity. The suspension applies to the land borders with Belgium and Germany and the air borders within the Schengen area.

Norway

The suspension came into force on 12 May and will expire on 11 November. Reason: there remains a general threat to the energy sector, with risks of sabotage by Russian intelligence services, which could target logistical and civilian infrastructure, in particular ports with ferry links to the Schengen area.

Poland

The suspension came into effect on 5 April and will end in October. Reason: the ongoing threats to security and public order arising from persistent migratory pressure along the borders with the Republic of Lithuania and the Federal Republic of Germany. The restrictions apply to the land borders with Germany and Lithuania.

Germany

The agreement was suspended on 16 March and will be reinstated on 15 September. Reason: the serious threats to security and public order arising from the persistence of high levels of irregular migration and migrant smuggling, as well as the pressure placed on the asylum reception system. The impact of the global security situation (including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East and Central Asia) on security and migration. The rules are suspended at the land borders with France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and the Republic of Poland.

Sweden

The suspension came into effect on 12 May and will end on 11 November. Reason: the serious and persistent threats to public policy and internal security posed by cross-border organised crime and other criminal activities, including the involvement of foreign state actors who utilise criminal gangs, combined with persistent threats from violent Islamist groups and individuals. The restrictions apply to all internal borders (land, air and sea) and the land borders with Denmark.

France

The suspension came into effect in May and will remain in force until 31 October. Reason: the serious and persistent threats to public order and internal security posed by the ongoing jihadist threat, the rise in anti-Semitic attacks, the growing criminal networks facilitating irregular migration and human trafficking, and the potential infiltration of radicalised individuals towards the French-British border-British border, as well as towards the borders of the English Channel and the North Sea, together with the rise in violence amongst migrants, particularly in northern coastal areas such as Pas-de-Calais, create dangerous conditions for both migrants and law enforcement agencies. Further threats stem from the deteriorating global security environment, including instability in Iran, the Middle East, Afghanistan and Somalia, as well as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Finally, the G7 summit held in Evian. The restrictions apply to all internal borders (land, air and sea) with Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain and Italia.

The Schengen Area is a zone of free movement without internal border controls, established on 14 June 1985 by the agreement named after the Luxembourg town of the same name, where it was signed by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Italia signed the agreement in 1990. The rules on the abolition of internal border controls, which entailed the extension of free movement for citizens of the signatory countries, were finalised and further defined by the Implementing Convention of 19 June 1990. The Agreement and the Convention thus form the Schengen acquis, which was incorporated into the legal framework of the Union by the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997 and is one of the achievements most highly valued by European citizens. Since 1995, the number of signatory countries has gradually increased, and now includes 25 EU Member States and four associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).