THE SCHENGEN PROJECT IN THE LIGHT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION THEORIES
THE SCHENGEN PROJECT IN THE LIGHT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION THEORIES

Summary/Abstract: The article proposes possible ways of conceptualizing the Schengen project, one of European integration's most essential and less-defined achievements. Although Schengen Agreement is nearly forty years old and profoundly influences the fundamental features of modern states, their authority, territoriality and identity, it still needs to be better understood as a phenomenon of integration. Considering both the definitional indeterminacy of the Schengen project and a deficit of in-depth analysis of this part of European integration, described mainly as an area, system or regime, the article proposes a reference to European integration theories. Based on these theories, three primary levels of theorizing at which Schengen can be conceptualized are presented: a particular example of European integration, a model of European territoriality and a project of border management in Europe. Each approach has its theoretical framework and assumptions, uses a different conceptual apparatus and formulates additional research questions.

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