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/