The end of an extraordinary year, affecting every corner of the world, including European borders! But it has not been just about Covid. Brexit and the Mediterranean once again make it into the list, among other border-related events across the Old Continent. Below you will find a visual review of 12 months to remember…

January

The journeys through Europe’s southern border continue…

Photo: Migrants on an overcrowded wooden boat in the Mediterranean Sea on January 10, 2020 | Photo: Picture-alliance/AP Photo/Santi Palacios

February

Violence at Europe South-Eastern border

Photo: Signs of violence on an asylum seeker in northern Turkey at the Greek border.  Belal Khaled

March

Covid hits, and Europe’s internal borders shut down (the temporary barriers series)

A temporary border barrier between Belgium and the Netherlands. Nico Vereecken / Photonews via Getty

Another temporary border barrier between Belgium and the Netherlands. Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

A temporary border barrier in Poland. Stefan Sauer/picture alliance via Getty

Check point at a Czech Republic border. Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty

A temporary border check between Poland and Germany. ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty

A makeshift border between Germany and the Czech Republic. Hendrik Schmidt/picture alliance via Getty

A temporary border barrier between Denmark and Germany. Frank Molter/picture alliance via Getty

The Vatican City-Italy border. REMO CASILLI/Reuters

(Sources for Temporary barriers series: Thomas Pallini, “Photos show the emergency makeshift borders European countries have erected in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19”, Business Insider, 4 April 2020. https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-european-borders-closed-in-response-to-covid-19-2020-4)

April

‘Temporary’ shut down of Europe’s borders extended…

A makeshift border between Germany and Switzerland. ARND WIEGMANN/Reuters

May

Europe reopens (some of) its internal borders

Photo: Luxembourg and German Foreign Ministers stand on the bridge over the Moselle River at the reopened border between the two countries on Saturday 16 May 2020. Credit: Oliver Dietze/dpa/Alamy Live News June

June

Europe continues to reopen (some of) its internal borders

Swiss customs officials open a fence closing the Swiss-French border in Thonex near Ambilly, France AFP

July

Summer European travelling in times of Covid…

Checking for coronavirus symptoms, Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, June 3, 2020. /AP

August

Entry-Exit System Pilot Project to Be Launched at EU Land Borders

September

The Swiss say yes to (continued) free movement in the EU

Photo: A poster of the Action for an independent and neutral Switzerland (AUNS) reading: “It’s getting tight -Yes to the anti-immigration initiative”. Adliswil, Switzerland September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

October

The second wave hits European borders

Photo:  Checks at Hungary’s border. Gergely Besenyei/AFP/Getty Images

November

France calls for the reform of Schengen (again)

Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to the border between France and Spain | Pool photo by Guillaume Horcajuelo/AFP via Getty Images

December

UK-EU deal and a new border in Gibraltar

Photo: Gibraltar. AP

A taste of Brexit’s Kent border?

Photo: Lorries line up on the way to Dover; PA

HAPPY 2021!!!