The Schengen Agreement is an agreement that allows people to travel freely within a majority of Europe without the need for border checks or visas. It is a major milestone in the history of European integration, allowing citizens and nationals of each of the 26 countries to travel without restriction, with the exception of certain limited safeguards.
The Schengen Agreement was signed on 14 June 1985 in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, by five of the ten member states of the then-European Economic Community (EEC). The five states were Belgium, France, West Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Initially, it was just an effort to reduce travel restrictions and facilitate cross-border movement for business and pleasure.
The agreement was largely formalised by the Amsterdam Treaty of Amsterdam 1997 which formally established the Schengen area and gave it its current name. The treaty abolished internal border controls between all participating states and allowed for the introduction of a common visa and a common external border system. The Schengen area now encompasses 26 countries: all of the 27 members of the European Union, except Ireland and the United Kingdom, plus four non-EU members (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).
With this agreement, citizens and nationals of any of the included countries can travel within the Schengen area without any passport checks or visa requirements, although there are some limited safeguards such as the requirement to carry a passport. Furthermore, these countries also share their border controls, and the Schengen member states issue a common visa for all the countries in the Schengen area.
Thanks to Schengen, borders within the area can now be crossed quickly and easily, as travellers' documents are checked once, when they enter the area, and are accepted throughout the rest of the Schengen countries. This means that if you fly from one Schengen country to another, you don't need to go through any passport checks, just the checks that have been set up by the destination country.
The Schengen system also helps to combat organised crime and terrorism. By establishing a common system of external and internal border checks, it is easier for law enforcement agencies to share information and work together to prevent criminals and terrorists from crossing borders.
Not only is the agreement useful to travellers, it has also been of great benefit to businesses and industry. By allowing the free movement of people, goods and services across borders, businesses are able to easily source materials and skilled labour, and transport them efficiently. This makes it easier for companies to expand and thrive, stimulating economic growth and employment.
In conclusion, the Schengen Agreement has been a successful example of European integration and cooperation. Thanks to its introduction, the borders within Europe have become practically invisible, making it easier for people to travel and for businesses to operate across national boundaries.
