We’re back with the latest instalment of the annual (visual) review of European borders. Covid 19 (again!) has cast a long shadow’s over inter- and intra-European mobility (welcome Covid passports!). Cross-border journeys by land and water have continued, some of them through new locations. This is the case of the gelid frontier between Poland and Belarus or the short (but still perilous) journey from France to the UK (after all, in the post Brexit world, the Channel is a European external border too..). Enjoy!
January
Dress rehearsal: the EU border agency gets a new uniform
Source: Frontex https://frontex.europa.eu/media-centre/multimedia/videos/uniforms-of-the-european-border-and-coast-guard-standing-corps-Fv4XEx
February
Locked down (again): internal border control reimposed throughout the EU
Source: Schengen Visa Info https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/several-schengen-countries-reintroduce-border-controls-in-context-of-covid-19/
March
Testing times: EU countries require negative Covid test to enter their territories
Schengen Visa Info https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/spain-requires-negative-covid-19-test-results-at-french-border/
April
A different type of green EU: member states agree to Covid 19 passport
Schengen Visa Info https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/member-states-agree-on-digital-green-certificate-technical-specifications-one-step-closer-to-its-implementation/
May
Making it: migrants in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta
Source: Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/17/record-1000-migrants-reach-spains-north-african-enclave-ceuta-in-a-day
July
A step closer to Schengen: Bulgaria and Romania gain access to EU VISA Information System
Source: Schengen Visa Info https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/bulgaria-romania-gain-read-only-access-to-eus-visa-information-system/
August
Where is your mask: Covid 19 (again) affecting Europe-bound tourism
Source: @ Carmel Rossen | Unsplash
September
Change the Channel: the journey from France to the UK
Source: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/09/09/migrant-boats-britain-france-channel/
October
Tense times at the Poland-Belarus border
Source: Deutsche Welle https://www.dw.com/en/poland-claims-belarusian-forces-fired-shots-across-border/a-59452671
November
Alpine Crossing: migrants walking through the Italy-France border
France © Daniel Cole/AP https://www.ft.com/content/6b74f042-42b1-4b6d-8c9c-ca16e612d3c4
December
Tunnel vision: France denies entry to British EU-residents
Source: Politico https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-based-brits-cant-travel-home-via-eurotunnel-company-warns/