Schengen Area: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:38, 9 December 2024

[[File: 2018/2092(INI)

The Schengen Area is a zone comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. The Schengen Area was established in 1995, and it is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement.

History[edit]

The Schengen Agreement was signed on June 14, 1985, near the village of Schengen, Luxembourg, by five of the ten member states of the European Economic Community (EEC). The agreement proposed the gradual abolition of border checks at the signatories' common borders. It was followed by the Schengen Convention in 1990, which proposed the abolition of internal border controls and a common visa policy.

The Schengen Area was officially established in 1995, initially comprising seven countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Over the years, the area has expanded to include most EU countries and some non-EU countries.

Member Countries[edit]

As of 2023, the Schengen Area includes the following 27 countries:

Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

Functioning[edit]

The Schengen Area operates very much like a single state for international travel purposes, with external border controls for travelers entering and exiting the area, but no internal border controls. This means that once a person is admitted into the Schengen Area, they can travel freely between the member countries without undergoing border checks.

Visa Policy[edit]

The Schengen Area has a common visa policy. A Schengen visa, issued by any member state, allows the holder to travel throughout the entire Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism or business purposes. The visa policy is governed by the Schengen Borders Code and the Visa Code.

Border Control and Security[edit]

While internal borders are open, the Schengen Area has strict external border controls. The Schengen Information System (SIS) is a large-scale information system that supports external border control and law enforcement cooperation in the Schengen States. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) is responsible for coordinating border control efforts.

Challenges and Criticisms[edit]

The Schengen Area has faced several challenges, particularly related to security and migration. The 2015 European migrant crisis put significant pressure on the Schengen system, leading some countries to temporarily reintroduce border controls. Security concerns, such as terrorism, have also led to debates about the effectiveness of the Schengen Area's border policies.

Also see[edit]

Template:Schengen Area

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-[[File:_2018/2092(INI)_|thumb|_2018/2092(INI)_]] [[file:Gibraltar_Border.jpg|right|thumb|Gibraltar_Border]] [[file:Schengen_Area_participation.svg|right|thumb|Schengen_Area_participation]] [[file:The_border_between_España_and_Andorra.jpg|thumb|The_border_between_España_and_Andorra]] [[file:SchengenGrenzeBayern-Tirol.jpg|thumb|SchengenGrenzeBayern-Tirol]] [[file:RIX_Schengen_arrival.jpg|thumb|RIX_Schengen_arrival]] [[file:German-Danish_Border.jpg|thumb|German-Danish_Border]] == Schengen Area ==
+[[File: 2018/2092(INI)  [[File:Gibraltar Border.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Schengen Area participation.svg|thumb]] [[File:The border between España and Andorra.jpg|thumb]] [[File:SchengenGrenzeBayern-Tirol.jpg|thumb]] {{Infobox Schengen Area
+| name = Schengen Area
+| map = Schengen Area map.svg
+| established = 1995
+| members = 27
+| area = 4,312,099 km²
+| population = 419,392,429
+| density = 97/km²
+}}
-The '''Schengen Area''' is a group of European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. The Schengen Area was established by the [[Schengen Agreement]] in 1985 and the subsequent [[Schengen Convention]] in 1990.
+The '''Schengen Area''' is a zone comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. The Schengen Area was established in 1995, and it is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement.
-== History ==
+==History==
-The Schengen Agreement was signed on June 14, 1985, near the village of [[Schengen, Luxembourg]], by five of the ten member states of the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC). The Schengen Convention, which supplemented the agreement, was signed on June 19, 1990, and implemented in 1995. The Schengen Area has since expanded to include most [[European Union]] (EU) member states and a few non-EU countries.
+The Schengen Agreement was signed on June 14, 1985, near the village of [[Schengen, Luxembourg]], by five of the ten member states of the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC). The agreement proposed the gradual abolition of border checks at the signatories' common borders. It was followed by the Schengen Convention in 1990, which proposed the abolition of internal border controls and a common visa policy.
-== Member Countries ==
+The Schengen Area was officially established in 1995, initially comprising seven countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Over the years, the area has expanded to include most EU countries and some non-EU countries.
-As of [[2023]], the Schengen Area consists of 27 countries, including 23 EU member states and 4 non-EU countries. The non-EU countries are [[Iceland]], [[Liechtenstein]], [[Norway]], and [[Switzerland]]. Not all EU member states are part of the Schengen Area; notable exceptions include [[Ireland]] and [[Bulgaria]].
-== Border Control and Visa Policy ==
+==Member Countries==
-Within the Schengen Area, internal border checks have largely been abolished. However, member countries retain the right to reintroduce border controls temporarily in exceptional circumstances, such as a significant threat to public policy or internal security. The Schengen visa allows for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism, business, or family visits.
+As of 2023, the Schengen Area includes the following 27 countries:
-== Cooperation and Security ==
+* Austria
-The Schengen Area relies on extensive cooperation and information sharing among member countries to maintain security. The [[Schengen Information System]] (SIS) is a large-scale database used by border guards, police, and other authorities to share information on individuals and property. The [[European Border and Coast Guard Agency]] (Frontex) also plays a crucial role in managing the external borders of the Schengen Area.
+* Belgium
+* Czech Republic
+* Denmark
+* Estonia
+* Finland
+* France
+* Germany
+* Greece
+* Hungary
+* Iceland
+* Italy
+* Latvia
+* Liechtenstein
+* Lithuania
+* Luxembourg
+* Malta
+* Netherlands
+* Norway
+* Poland
+* Portugal
+* Slovakia
+* Slovenia
+* Spain
+* Sweden
+* Switzerland
-== Impact ==
+==Functioning==
-The Schengen Area has significantly facilitated travel and commerce within Europe by eliminating the need for border checks. It has also contributed to the sense of European unity and integration. However, it has faced challenges, particularly during the [[European migrant crisis]] and the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], when several member states temporarily reinstated border controls.
+The Schengen Area operates very much like a single state for international travel purposes, with external border controls for travelers entering and exiting the area, but no internal border controls. This means that once a person is admitted into the Schengen Area, they can travel freely between the member countries without undergoing border checks.
-== Related Pages ==
+===Visa Policy===
+The Schengen Area has a common visa policy. A Schengen visa, issued by any member state, allows the holder to travel throughout the entire Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism or business purposes. The visa policy is governed by the [[Schengen Borders Code]] and the [[Visa Code]].
+===Border Control and Security===
+While internal borders are open, the Schengen Area has strict external border controls. The [[Schengen Information System]] (SIS) is a large-scale information system that supports external border control and law enforcement cooperation in the Schengen States. The [[European Border and Coast Guard Agency]] (Frontex) is responsible for coordinating border control efforts.
+==Challenges and Criticisms==
+The Schengen Area has faced several challenges, particularly related to security and migration. The 2015 European migrant crisis put significant pressure on the Schengen system, leading some countries to temporarily reintroduce border controls. Security concerns, such as terrorism, have also led to debates about the effectiveness of the Schengen Area's border policies.
+==Also see==
+* [[European Union]]
 * [[Schengen Agreement]]
-* [[European Union]]
 * [[Schengen Information System]]
+* [[Visa policy of the Schengen Area]]
 * [[European Border and Coast Guard Agency]]
-* [[European Economic Area]]
-* [[Visa policy of the Schengen Area]]
-== See Also ==
-* [[European Economic Community]]
-* [[European Free Trade Association]]
-* [[Common Travel Area]]
-[[Category:European Union]]
+{{Schengen Area}}
-[[Category:International travel]]
-[[Category:Border control]]
-{{Schengen-stub}}
+[[Category:European integration]]
+[[Category:Schengen Area]]
+[[Category:European Union law]]