Annual conference of the TEIN network: the return of borders and the challenge to cooperation

Discussions revealed a consensus among both researchers and practitioners: since 2015, there has been a “return of borders,” even as new European instruments – such as the revision of the Schengen Borders Code or the BRIDGEforEU initiative – are being developed. The narrative of a “Europe without borders,” which prevailed in the 1990s, is now being challenged by a nationalist discourse centered on closing borders. Unilateral border controls disrupt cross-border life and weaken the ties between neighboring territories. Conversely, cooperation between police forces, notably through joint patrols, was presented as an approach that is both more operationally effective and more conducive to building trust. In this context, promoting European and cross-border cooperation remains essential, including as a means to address security challenges.

On 6 October, Jean Peyrony, Director General of the MOT, participated in a roundtable discussion titled “Overcoming Obstacles, Hybridization, and Ad-hoc Solutions,” during which he presented the implementation of the “BRIDGE-FR” mechanism along France’s borders.

This rollout is also expected to give rise to training needs among the stakeholders involved. The TEIN and BIG networks, along with the MOT, serve as valuable resources for addressing these requirements. The MOT stands ready to assist both state authorities and its own network in facilitating this collaboration.