Schengenavtalet

Schengenavtalet, commonly known as the Schengen Agreement, is a treaty that aimed to create a space in which border checks on internal EU member state borders could be abolished and a common approach to external border control and police cooperation could be developed. It was signed in 1985 near Schengen, Luxembourg, by five states: France, West Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The agreement laid the groundwork for free movement across most of Western Europe and established procedures for coordinating border policy and security.

The agreement was expanded and implemented through the Schengen Convention, and the resulting Schengen Area progressively opened for travel across the member states. In EU law, the Schengen acquis was integrated and became part of the European Union framework, with the Schengen Borders Code defining external border controls and cooperation among police, customs, and judicial authorities. The Amsterdam Treaty of 1997 and subsequent legislation formalized the area within the EU, while non-EU states such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland joined the Schengen Area through bilateral or associated arrangements.

As of today, the Schengen Area comprises 27 states: 23 EU member states and four non-EU states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). Croatioa joined in 2023. Ireland and several other EU countries (notably Romania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus) maintain opt-outs or are outside Schengen, retaining their own border controls. The arrangement facilitates passport-free travel within most of Europe while maintaining a unified external border policy and cooperation in law enforcement. Border controls at internal borders may be temporarily reintroduced for security or public health reasons.