Schengen Area

To date, the Schengen area consists of25 European countries that have joined the agreement with the same name. On the basis of this agreement passport and customs control between all participants of the zone is canceled, and citizens can freely move through each other's territories. It was signed in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on a pleasure boat near the city of Shengen in 1985.

During these years, the number of countrieshas changed, increasing from year to year. Initially, five countries took part in the signing: Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and entered into force on 26/03/1995, it was joined by two more countries: Spain and Portugal. Later, in 1997, the Schengen area (Austria and Italy had time to join) numbered already nine states. The Amsterdam Treaty has made significant changes to the EU agreement, its legal norms.

In the year 2000 Greece joins without Athos, and in 2001 this includes states: Scandinavia, Sweden and Finland and non-EU Norway and Iceland. In 2006, a border code was adopted, which is updated in 2010 and an obligatory document such as a "B" transit visa is added.

The largest expansion occurred in 2007,when it included Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Estonia. In 2008 the Schengen area is replenished by Switzerland, and at the end of 2011 one more country joins this free customs area - Liechtenstein. They become the 3rd and 4th states that are not members of the European Union. For Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, visa-free entry into the countries of this agreement was permitted from 01/01/2010.

When implementing international travelThe Schengen zone presupposes a uniform border control at the external border. In addition, it largely acts as a single state. Departure and entry is carried out without border control and compliance with various formalities on the internal borders of the states that are part of this zone. In addition, the Schengen zone significantly strengthens border control with third countries that have immediate borders with it. They undertake to maintain and conduct a unified policy and record for every temporarily entering person, conduct timely control of external borders and develop cross-border judicial and police cooperation.

In exceptional cases, when a threat is possiblepublic order or internal security (in carrying out various sports competitions, congresses, important political summits), border control of internal borders between some countries of this space can be restored. This period has limitations for up to 30 days.

The Schengen zone unites the territories of states,where its legislation operates, and the movement of the human stream occurs at the maximum convenient and unhindered regime. It includes officially still de facto three micro-states in Europe: the Vatican, San Marino and Monaco. In addition, Andorra lacks internal control at the borders with the countries of this zone. The Schengen zone (the countries of Ireland and the United Kingdom are not yet part of it) will be expanded soon. This is evidenced by the consent of these countries to join the composition. In the future, it is also possible to join Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, which is currently being debated. To date, the Schengen area covers a little less than 4.5 million km 2 and here lives more than 400 million people.

Before entry, countries must pass throughreceive an assessment of readiness in four areas: air borders, visas, police cooperation and protection of personal data. In the role of evaluators are representatives - special experts of European countries.