Since the UK’s decision to leave the EU, there has been speculation about other countries following suit. Some political figures in Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and France have discussed the possibility of holding their own referendums on EU membership. 

If Italy or Spain were to leave the EU, how would this impact their enforcement of the rules related to the Schengen zone? Would they also not implement ETIAS? These questions can only be answered by looking at the Schengen Agreement itself.

What is the Schengen Agreement?

The Schengen Agreement is a treaty that was signed in 1985 by five European countries (Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany). The agreement led to the creation of the Schengen zone, which allows for the free movement of people and goods within the member states. The purpose of the Schengen Agreement was to reduce or eliminate internal border checks at shared border crossings, thus allowing for greater freedom of movement for people and goods.

The Schengen zone now includes 27 European countries, including most of the European Union (EU) member states. Non-EU countries such as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland are also part of the Schengen zone. The agreement has been amended several times over the years, and new measures have been added to improve security and facilitate the movement of people within the Schengen area. The Schengen Agreement has been hailed as a significant achievement in European integration.

What is ETIAS?

ETIAS is the European Travel Information and Authorization System. It is a new electronic system that will be introduced by the European Union in 2025 to strengthen security and control the flow of visitors to the Schengen Area. ETIAS will require visitors from eligible countries to apply for travel authorization before they can enter the Schengen Area. This will help to screen travelers for potential security threats and ensure that only those who pose no risk are allowed to enter the Schengen Area.

The ETIAS system will be implemented by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX), and the European Commission will be responsible for setting the rules and regulations for the system. Visitors from eligible countries will be able to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization online, by providing their personal and biometric information, as well as answering security-related questions. Once their application has been approved, they will be able to travel to the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The ETIAS travel authorization will be valid for three years, or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first.

What happens if a Schengen Member leaves the EU?

If a Schengen member country were to leave the EU, it could have significant implications for the country’s membership in the Schengen zone. The Schengen Agreement is closely tied to the EU, and EU membership is one of the main requirements for participating in the Schengen zone.

If a country were to leave the EU, it would no longer be required to comply with the EU’s rules and regulations on freedom of movement. This could potentially lead to the reintroduction of border checks at the country’s shared borders with other Schengen members. This could disrupt the free flow of people and goods within the Schengen area and negatively impact the economy of the country and the region as a whole.

Additionally, if a country were to leave the EU, it would also have to renegotiate its membership in the Schengen zone. This could potentially lead to the country being excluded from the Schengen area, which would have further consequences for the country’s economy and its citizens’ ability to travel freely within Europe.

So, can a European country implement ETIAS after it leaves the EU?The quick answer is no. ETIAS is a system that is being implemented by the European Union for visa-free travel to member countries. Since a country that leaves the EU would no longer be a member, it would not be required to implement ETIAS. However, the country may choose to implement a similar system for managing visa-free travel to its own territory. 

This would be a decision for the country to make based on its own individual policies and priorities. It’s worth noting that ETIAS is not mandatory for all EU member countries, so even while a country is a member of the EU, it may not necessarily have to implement the system. Additionally, ETIAS is not a replacement for traditional visas, so even if a country does implement the system, travelers may still need to obtain visas for certain purposes.

Why would a departing EU member consider staying in the Schengen?

The cost of enforcing border controls can be significant, potentially reaching hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars depending on the type and how large the border is, as well as the technologies and people hired for border security. 

Much of the movement of people and goods across borders is related to commerce and does not pose a security threat to the country’s residents. A departing EU member country will need to weigh the benefits of increased control at their borders against the high costs of having full management of their own borders.

Another benefit of remaining in the Schengen zone is that it will allow the country to implement ETIAS, which provides an electronic travel authorization system for registering, authorizing/denying travel, and tracking the movements of low-risk EU travelers.

Implementing ETIAS will also provide participating Schengen countries with an additional source of revenue as travelers will be required to pay a fee for their electronic travel authorization. This fee will be used to support the ETIAS system and provide additional resources for border security and immigration control.

Non-EU members of the Schengen zone, however, do not have the right to vote on changes to the Schengen rules. Only EU member states have the right to vote on changes to the rules of the Schengen Agreement, as the agreement is closely tied to the EU. Non-EU members are, however, consulted on changes to the rules and can provide input and feedback through their national governments.

Conclusion

ETIAS is an EU initiative that aims to improve security and manage migration by requiring non-EU citizens to obtain authorization before traveling visa-free to the EU. The system will apply to citizens of countries that are currently eligible for visa-free travel to the EU. 

Any country that leaves the EU will not be required to implement the ETIAS system after they leave. Since ETIAS is an initiative of the European Union, it will only apply to member countries. Once a country leaves the EU, it will no longer be subject to the requirements of the ETIAS system. However, the country may choose to implement a similar system for managing visa-free travel to its own territory. This would be a decision for the country to make based on its own policies and priorities.