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The Schengen Agreement provides for the freedom of movement, which is one of the most remarkable achievements of the European integration and, therefore, we should foster it,” Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis says.“The freedom of movement is the factor that joins and unites citizens of the European Union. We cannot ignore the new circumstances in the field of security, but we should search for an answer in the Schengen Agreement. To weaken the Schengen principles is the same as to strike at the foundation of the values of the European Union,” head of the Lithuanian diplomacy stressed.

According to A.Ažubalis, the Schengen Acquis has already provided for possibilities to temporarily reintroduce border controls when there is a threat to public order or security. However, according to him, proposals to introduce additional exemptions or exceptions in order to restrict the free movement of persons would undermine Schengen achievements.

In response to the events in North African countries, on April 26 Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for the Schengen reform to reinstate border checks under exceptional circumstances, as well as to strengthen the role of Frontex, the EU agency tasked to coordinate the operational cooperation between member states at the external borders.

This proposal will be discussed on 12 May at an extraordinary meeting of European interior ministers in Brussels. The European Council will also discuss migration issues on 23-24 June.

In 1985, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed the Schengen Agreement. The agreement abolished border controls in the Schengen area and unified border management at the EU’s external borders.