While the management of the Schengen area has been subject of intense discussion between Member States and the European institutions, Notre Europe and the European Policy Center (EPC) organised on 20 September 2012 a debate on the free movement of people.

Four speakers illustrated their respective visions of the Schengen area:

? Carlos Coelho, member of the European Parliament, member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs;

? Stefano Manservisi, Director General of the DG Home Affairs with the European Commission;

? Yves Pascouau,senior political analyst with the EPC and author of the Policy Paper “Schengen and solidarity: the fragile balance between mutual trust and mistrust” co-published by Notre Europe and EPC ;

? António Vitorino, president of Notre Europe and former European commissioner for justice and home affairs.

The debate concentrated on three main issues:

1. 1 - The unanimous agreement on the need for a thorough overhaul of the way the Schengen area is governed;
2. 2 - The intense discussion on the legal basis applicable to the governance of the Schengen area;
3. 3 - The link between free movement, public cooperation, visas and migrations.

The debate ended with a presentation of the results of an opinion poll on the freedom of movement conducted among the audience.

Synthesis avaible here