The impact of the Schengen Agreement on the border region between the Republic of Serbia and Hungary

Abstract

Many studies and articles have been published on the European Union and the Schengen Agreement. I have also examined the impact and message of the Schengen Agreement today in a short treatise, which is currently in the process of being published. The two topics – the European Union and the Schengen Agreement – are so multifaceted and constantly evolving that it is necessary to continue to examine their impact and future in greater depth. In this study, in addition to a brief description of the accession status of the Republic of Serbia, I present the possible impact of the Schengen ideas on the Serbian-Hungarian border region. With a background in border guarding and border policing, it is natural to also touch upon the rules of border crossing and activities related to border control. In my opinion, the enlargement of the European Union and the completion of the Schengen ideas will be a significant step forward for Serbia and the Western Balkans, and the current population of approximately 450 million will be able to enjoy the benefits on an economic, cultural, and social level.
Concepts such as "overtourism" have emerged, against which certain European Union countries – Greece, Italy – are taking action with extra taxes and restrictions in order to protect their famous islands, cultural heritage, and local populations. However, in this corner of Europe, alongside economic recovery – the establishment of factories and the importation of labour – a significant boom in tourism is also expected as a result of the Republic of Serbia's accession to the European Union and the subsequent abolition of border controls under the Schengen rules.
In the study, I also present the establishment of the European Communities, the objectives of the European Union and its relationship with third countries outside the Union, focusing on the process of the Republic of Serbia's accession to the European Union. I describe in detail the purpose of the Schengen Agreement, its effects on the control of external and internal borders, and the fulfilment of civil freedoms in a borderless Europe.
I have been a professional border guard since 1993, then, following the integration of the Hungarian Border Guard into the national police force, I serving in the field of border policing, and I am currently a master lecturer at the Ludovika University of Public Service. For nearly 15 years, I have been working as a Schengen evaluator dealing with the Schengen Agreement and the Schengen Borders Code, as well as the related legislation, and have carried out such evaluations on numerous occasions along almost the entire external border of the Schengen member states.