The Schengen Treaty, officially known as the Schengen Agreement, was signed on June 14, 1985, near the village of Schengen in Luxembourg. This treaty aimed to create a borderless area across participating European countries by abolishing internal border checks, thus allowing for the free movement of people.
Key points about the Schengen Treaty include:
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Initial Signatories: The original agreement was signed by five of the ten member states of the European Economic Community (EEC) at the time: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
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Purpose: The main goal was to facilitate the free movement of individuals within the participating countries while enhancing cooperation on security and policing.
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Implementation: The treaty was progressively implemented through subsequent agreements and protocols, leading to the creation of the Schengen Area, which allows individuals to travel freely across borders within the participating countries.
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Schengen Area: Over the years, many other European countries have joined the Schengen Area, which now includes 26 countries as of my last update in October 2023. However, the United Kingdom opted out of joining the Schengen Area and retained its own border controls.
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Schengen Information System (SIS): To ensure security and manage the free movement, the Schengen Area established the Schengen Information System, a large-scale database that allows member countries to share information about criminals and missing persons.
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Challenges and Revisions: The Schengen Area has faced various challenges, particularly regarding immigration and security issues, leading to temporary reinstatement of border controls in some member states in response to crises, such as the migrant crisis and terrorism.
The Schengen Agreement was a significant step toward European integration, promoting not just travel freedom but also cooperation in law enforcement and border security among European nations.
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