Schengen: A key achievement of the European Union
Article Security
The European Union has come a long way in creating a common area of freedom, security and justice. This successful model includes the freedom of movement and the abolition of checks on persons at the EU’s internal borders.
While travelling within the Schengen area without any border checks has become absolutely normal for us, quite a few obstacles had to be overcome to achieve this.
The end of checks of persons at the internal borders dates back to a Franco-German initiative. The legal basis consisted in two international treaties:
- the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 and
- the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement of 19 June 1990 (CISA).
These agreements formed the legal basis specifically for the free movement of persons.
Schengen standard
To ensure that the end of internal border checks would not lower the level of security, the Schengen countries agreed on measures which make up what is now referred to as the Schengen standard. These include, but are not limited to:
- Harmonizing and increasing checks at the external borders: :
The contracting states monitor their borders with non-Schengen countries and conduct checks in line with high Schengen standards - Cross-border police cooperation:
For example, police may conduct surveillance of suspects and pursue them across the internal borders - Establishing an automated system to search for missing and wanted persons and stolen property:
The Schengen Information System (SIS) - Schengen Information System (SIS)
This includes, for example, the introduction of the Schengen visa and the development of the Dublin System for asylum applicants
Schengen countries
The Agreement was named after the village of Schengen in Luxembourg, where the Implementing Convention was signed on 19 June 1990 by the Benelux countries, France and Germany. The agreement came into effect on 26 March 1995.
Ireland participates only to a limited extent in Schengen cooperation. It contributes to police and judicial cooperation, but continues to conduct border checks of persons entering or leaving the country.
Although not in the EU, Iceland and Norway adopted all Schengen regulations in 1996. Liechtenstein and Switzerland did the same and have a similar status as associated countries, as they are not EU member states either.
Despite full membership in the European Union, Cyprus only partly applies the Schengen Acquis. Only if the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union unanimously decides that an acceding country meets all Schengen standards will checks of persons at the future internal borders be removed also with regard to the acceding country in question.
Date of revision: 01 January 2025
