Schengen Shake-Up: Could a Member State Actually Be Expelled?

As debates over border controls intensify across Europe, a pressing question is emerging from Brussels and national capitals alike: can a country be forced out of the Schengen Area? While the idea was once unthinkable, recent political tensions have made the topic a subject of serious legal and diplomatic discussion.

Under current EU treaties, there is no explicit mechanism to permanently eject a member state from the border-free zone. Schengen is not a standalone organisation, but rather an integral part of EU law, embedded in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Legal experts point out that the only way a nation could lose its Schengen membership entirely would be if it left the EU altogether—similar to what Britain did, though the UK never joined Schengen in the first place.

However, temporary suspensions are a different matter. Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code allows member states to reintroduce internal border checks in cases of serious threats to public order or national security. These measures can last up to six months, with possible extensions. This clause has become increasingly popular, with countries such as Germany, France, and Denmark repeatedly invoking it in response to migration pressures and terrorism fears.

What about a long-term freeze? The European Commission could theoretically propose a “corrective mechanism” if a member state fails to protect the external border, as outlined in the 2016 Schengen Roadmap. This could lead to a two-year border closure for that country—effectively a de facto suspension. But a full, permanent expulsion would require a unanimous vote among remaining members and would almost certainly be challenged in the European Court of Justice.

For locals in AKERSHUS and beyond, the practical impact is already visible. Temporary border checks are becoming routine, creating friction in daily life for cross-border commuters and tourists. Yet, legal scholars agree that the fundamental right to free movement remains protected, and the political will to invoke the ultimate nuclear option—expulsion—is virtually nonexistent. As the EU grapples with internal fractures, the reality is that Schengen’s destiny lies in compromise, not eradication.