While I'm a big fan of Schengen and its consequences throughout vast parts of the EU, I do not understand the regulations concerning Schengen-outposts to the east.
Before the latest expansion, Germany was an outpost while Polish and Czech neighbors could travel to Germany showing their passports. They did not need a visa, thus I would call this a "soft" Schengen-Outpost: Schengen was protected from people coming from further away.
In the new situation, there are direct Schengen-neighbours who need a Schengen-Visa. (Belarus, Ukraine etc...) That's a hard end.
Having seen >>this Youtube Video<< I was shocked of the implications.
What should the elderly lady from the video answer in the Schengen-application:
Q: Why do you want to travel to "Schengen"?
A: I want attend Sunday mass and see my husband's grave, which is 30 metres from my house.
Q: Where will you stay?
A: As I have to travel more than 100k to reach the place, I will stay at my neighbours.
Q: What incentive do you have to go back home after your "journey".
A: After visiting church and my husband's grave I always went home so far. (It never took me more than 2 minutes before yee came along...)
Being from Germany, the current situation reminds me of the GDR border with "the west" in former times. Surely some special regulations COULD be found to help people so severely affected, but as this group is rather small, the political pressure will be very little.
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