Young people gathered on May 25 outside the European Parliament on Palais du Luxembourg for a street action in support of Europe without Borders, a campaign against the reintroduction of borders in the Schengen area. The action was hosted by Young European Federalists (JEF), a pan-European nongovernmental organization of politically pluralist youth that has about 30,000 members in more than 30 European countries, according to their website.
Jo Leinen, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) and former JEF president, “cut” through the border at the action. “As you can see, it is very difficult to break the border,” said Leinen as he sawed through the border post.
The 1985 Schengen Agreement removed internal borders from 22 members in the EU and three others to grant visa-free travel. The issue of passport-free travel under Schengen will be discussed at an EU summit next month.
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Brussels policeman asks for the IDs of several members of Young European Federalists (JEF). |
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JEF members walk through a symbolic border in support of the Europe without Borders campaign against the reintroduction of borders in the Schengen area. |
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Michel Gelly, board member of JEF Europe, waits for the street action to start. |
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Jo Leinen, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) and former JEF president, cuts through the border for the Europe without Borders campaign in a street action on 25 May outside the Parliament on Palais du Luxembourg. |
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"As you can see, it is very difficult to break the border," says MEP Jo Leinen as he saws through the border post. |
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MEP Jo Leinen waves the now-broken European border outside Parliament. |
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A young child plays with the broken border after the street action. |
