The relationship between states in the EU is not very different from the relationship between US States under the Articles of Confederation. It's not a big a distinction as you think.
Yeah honestly. I know we (USA), do any number of things In a screwed up way, but it's also what I'm used to. There's NO border control anywhere around there? Seems weird to me.
When I was in Germany in 2022, I traveled freely around Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Czechia. I only got asked for my Passport in Switzerland, and then at the airports. Otherwise, no, you'd just be driving or on a train and the signs would change to French suddenly.
I loved it. I wish we fucking would relax our shit in the US. It was hella neat.
Do you have border control between states? It's basically the same thing with schengen. No control between countries on the "inside", but rigorous control to get in.