Juncker marks 30th anniversary of Schengen agreement

Marking the 30th anniversary of the border-free Schengen agreement on 13 June 2015, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned against taking advantage of the surge of immigrants from the Mediterranean to dismantle what he said was one of the greatest achievements in EU integration.

The visit of Mr Juncker, who was accompanied by the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel and the European Parliament President Martin Schulz, coincided with an escalation of the crisis of immigrants arriving in Italy, and the unwillingness of other countries to share the burden.

Populist politicians such as Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Front, took advantage of the situation to stage a show in which she threw the Schengen agreement in a dustbin.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: 'Schengen', terrorism and security http://www.europeansources.info/record/schengen-terrorism-and-security/

ESO: Background information: Schengen area http://www.europeansources.info/record/schengen-borders-and-visas/

CEPS Special report, 112.06.15: Schengen Anniversary http://aei.pitt.edu/64872/

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