The Schengen Agreement, which established the European Union's borderless travel zone, marks its 40th anniversary amid growing challenges to its foundational principle of free movement. Originally designed to eliminate border controls among EU member states, Schengen is facing a resurgence of temporary border checks, which have become increasingly common across the bloc. This shift has affected border regions such as the area between Kleve in Germany and Nijmegen in the Netherlands, highlighting the practical impact of renewed controls. Critics and sociologists note that Europe is more closed off than it has been in decades, with some lawmakers describing the Schengen area as "melting before our eyes." In response to evolving security and migration concerns, the EU is set to implement a new automated border control system on October 12, 2025. This system aims to monitor the hundreds of millions of people entering the EU annually and has been delayed multiple times before its upcoming launch.