What is the Schengen Agreement?

The Schengen Agreement is an agreement between the member states of the European Union, which enables the removal of border checks between countries. The agreement is named after the city of Luxembourg, where it was signed in 1985. The Schengen area currently includes 26 European countries, 22 of which are EU member states.

The goal of the Schengen agreement is to facilitate travel and trade between countries and to increase security and cooperation in cross-border crime. In the Schengen area, people can travel freely without passport checks between countries, as long as they have a valid identity card.

The Schengen agreement also includes a common visa policy, which enables one visa to be used in several different countries. In addition, the agreement includes cooperation in asylum policy and border control.

The Schengen Agreement is a significant part of the European Union’s cooperation and integration, and it has brought many practical benefits to both tourists and businesses. However, the agreement has also sparked discussion about security and immigration, especially with the terrorist attacks and refugee crisis that have occurred in recent years.

Sources: European Commission, Schengen Visa Info