The Schengen Agreement on the Polish-Czech Border

Abstract

1. The extension of the Schengen Agreement to the countries of Central Europe is the historic event, which finally ended the isolation of the communist period, entirely changing the functions and perception of the state border in this region of Europe and accelerating the integration of European states. 2. Despite the border control removal, one should not expect immediate growth of the border traffic at the Polish-Czech border. However the smuggling of goods may still intensify. 3. Despite the great importance of the Schengen Agreement, the knowledge of Polish-Czech borderland citizens about this event several months before its introduction was scarce. One should hope, that introduction of a new legislation and its practical use, will significantly change the consciousness of citizens. 4. The majority of the respondents on both sides of the border expect that the opening of the border will positively change the image of the Polish-Czech borderland. However, there is also a large group of people, especially on Czech side of the border, who think that the Schengen Agreement will not introduce any changes, although the number of pessimists foreseeing the deterioration of the situation is scarce. 5. Respondents on the Polish side of the border have larger expectations towards functioning of the Schengen Agreement, while Czechs are more skeptical about it.6. There is a strong dependence between the age of the respondents and declaration of fears connected with the accession to the Schengen Zone – the older the respondents, the higher percentage of skeptical people. 7. Expectations and hopes connected with functioning of the Schengen Agreement are related mainly to the economic development of the border-land, especially trade, services, enterprises, as well as with the improvement of living conditions and facilitations in transboundary contacts and foreign travel. Among respondents’ expectations, economic benefits are the most popular. 8. The most frequently indicated fears, connected with the lack of border control, are the growth of crime rate, smuggling and deterioration of natural environment. Moreover, Polish citizens are afraid of the increase in an already high emigration rate.