Topic: Schengen

Germany has announced the reinstatement of temporary internal checks at all land borders to curb "irregular migration" and protect against Islamist terror. The decision follows a mass stabbing in Solingen committed by a Syrian refugee and claimed by the Islamic State. This move effectively suspends the open-border principles of the Schengen Agreement for an initial period of six months.

European Union ministers are nearing a formal agreement on a new migration and asylum pact intended to balance the distribution of migrants across member states. The proposal includes extending detention periods and increasing processing centers at external borders. Tensions remain high as countries like Germany and Italy debate the role of NGO rescue ships while internal border controls threaten the Schengen agreement.

Croatia officially became the 20th member of the Eurozone and the 27th member of the passport-free Schengen zone on January 1st. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Zagreb to mark the milestone, which aims to boost the country's tourism sector. However, some critics grumble that the decision to drop the kuna for the euro was made without a public referendum and may hurt the small economy.

The Dutch government has banned David Icke from entering the Netherlands and the entire Schengen area, designating him a "level 3 terrorist threat." The ban was prompted by concerns over Icke's rhetoric, which critics label as anti-Semitic. The decision has sparked debate regarding free speech and the historical context of government censorship in the region.

A leaked video of Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin dancing at a party is characterized as a media distraction from her recent call to ban Russian tourists from the EU. Critics argue the "scandal" was amplified to bury her politically sensitive comments regarding the Schengen area and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

A host recounts being denied entry to the Schengen area in Brussels due to a 2013 law requiring passports to be valid for six months beyond the departure date. Despite having a valid passport for three months, the host was barred from boarding a flight. The story includes a complaint about Airbnb's refund policy following the forced cancellation of the trip.

The European Union has launched the Digital COVID Certificate to facilitate travel across member states. While officials frame it as a restoration of freedom, the hosts argue it represents a permanent barrier to the original "no passport" premise of the EU. The certificate requires proof of vaccination, antibodies, or a recent negative test.

Nigel Farage discusses the potential collapse of the European Union as member states reimpose borders and ignore the Schengen Agreement. He notes that Germany's refusal to export masks to Italy allowed China to step in as a "charitable godfather" to gain global influence. Farage argues that the crisis has exposed the failure of global governance and the importance of national sovereignty.

The technical reasons for the US flight ban on the Schengen area are explored, citing the inability of old airline COBOL systems to track multi-leg journeys. Meanwhile, EU politician Guy Verhofstadt uses Brexit as a justification to call for a "real union" without veto rights or opt-outs.

European health ministers met in Italy and decided against closing internal borders, calling such measures "inefficient" for stopping the virus. Simultaneously, reports indicate a surge in asylum seekers entering the Schengen area from countries like Venezuela and Colombia due to visa-free entry requirements, complicating regional security and health monitoring.

The rise of blatant socialism in American protests is compared to historical tax rates in the Netherlands and Denmark. The failure of the "no borders" concept in the European Union's Schengen Area is cited as evidence against the feasibility of such policies. Protesters are characterized as "useful idiots" who do not understand the economic or sovereign implications of their demands.

The European Commission is proposing changes to the Schengen Agreement to allow member states to reintroduce internal border controls for up to three years in "exceptional" security circumstances. Currently, the limit is six months, but terror attacks and the 2015 migrant crisis have pressured the EU to relax its passport-free travel rules. Critics note that the Lisbon Treaty's original intent was to relax external borders rather than restrict internal ones.

Austria announced new quotas and tightened controls at twelve border points, including the Spielfeld crossing with Slovenia, threatening the open-border Schengen zone. Meanwhile, Frontex reports that migrant smuggling from Libya to Italy has reached record levels, with smugglers packing more people onto unsafe vessels.

The hosts discuss the suspension of the Schengen Agreement and the return of border controls within the European Union as evidence that the "no nations" project is failing. They draw parallels to the era before World War I, when borders were relatively open and passports were not required, suggesting that such systems often lead to cultural clashes and conflict. They argue that distinct national cultures require borders for protection and stability.

Adam Curry was denied boarding on a Delta flight from Austin to Amsterdam due to a strictly enforced Schengen law requiring three months of passport validity beyond the departure date. Airlines face $25,000 fines for transporting passengers who do not meet these European Union entry requirements.

The Schengen Area's policy of free movement is under strain as Denmark and Sweden introduce new border controls to manage migrant flows. Denmark has also proposed controversial laws to seize refugees' assets to help pay for their stay in the country.

Oxfam has called for the lifting of the US embargo on Cuba, which remains in place despite restored diplomatic relations. In Europe, US Army General Ben Hodges proposed a "military Schengen zone" to allow NATO troops and equipment to move across European borders as quickly as Russian forces can move within their own territory.

Nigel Farage delivers a speech in the European Parliament criticizing the EU's migration deal with Turkey. Farage argues that granting visa-free travel to 75 million Turks is "dangerous" and "mad," citing Turkey's alleged links to ISIS and its focus on bombing Kurds. He frames the potential integration of Turkey as a primary reason for Britain to vote for Brexit.

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, warned that the Schengen Agreement could collapse within two months if the migration crisis is not brought under control. The potential end of free movement poses a significant threat to the German economy, which relies heavily on open borders for transit and exports.

Brussels enters a maximum security lockdown as authorities hunt for Paris attack suspect Salah Abdeslam, believed to be hiding in the Molenbeek district. Counter-intelligence experts note that porous European borders have allowed military-grade weapons from the Balkans to flood into Belgium. A report suggests that French jihadists source weapons from Belgium because Belgian criminal networks lack the "moral" barriers found in French gangs.