However , in light of the terrorist attacks in Paris , during a meeting of the Council of the European Union on 20 November 2015 , interior ministers from the Member States decided to ' implement immediately the necessary systematic and coordinated checks at external borders , including on individuals enjoying the right of free movement ' . Amendments were made to the Schengen Border Code to introduce systematic checks of the travel documents of EU , EEA and Swiss citizens , as well as their family members enjoying the right of free movement , against relevant databases when crossing external borders . The new regime came into force on 7 April 2017
terrorist attacks in Paris
November 2015 Paris attacks
Schengen Area