This study assesses two years of border management linked to the pandemic and its impact on border regions and draws some recommendations for future pandemic management, also taking into account the current revision of the Schengen Borders Code.

The analysis of border-related measures and their effects on people living in border regions, has revealed the nature of cross-border interdependencies, within 6 different spheres:

1. Economic
2. Functional
3. Institutional
4. Informational
5. Cultural
6. Interpersonal

Border regions were more severely impacted than other territories, as public authorities had no clear view of the interdependencies existing in these territories.

Through its guidelines, and by showcasing good practices already in place on certain borders, the European Commission has encouraged states not to systematically close their borders and, when they had to re-establish border controls, to take measures mitigating the effects of such controls on border regions. For instance, it has provided a framework for a collective learning process, that should be developed in the future.

As a result of this analysis, we can conclude that in terms of induced border measures, border restrictions have not been applied consistently across borders. It can be observed that most states do not have a holistic, inter-ministerial view of the measures put in place on their borders, and of their effects on border regions.

Read the report here: 

https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/information/publications/studies/2022/analysis-of-the-impact-of-border-related-measures-taken-by-member-states-in-the-fight-against-covid-19