The European Union may tighten rules allowing the free movement of people in the bloc because of concerns over an influx of illegal migrants fleeing unrest in North Africa. Following is an explanation of the EU's free travel zone and its the rules.
WHAT IS THE SCHENGEN AGREEMENT?
The Schengen zone incorporates 25 European countries: 22 EU members plus Switzerland, Iceland and Norway, where free movement of people is guaranteed.
Immigration checks are carried out on the area's external borders under identical rules and procedures for entry; visas are harmonised.
There are no routine checks at internal frontiers, meaning travellers can, for example, drive 3,000 km (1,800 miles) from Portugal to Poland without encountering a border guard.
Setting up the system involved improving cooperation and coordination between police and the judiciary to protect internal security and fight organised crime.
The Schengen Information System (SIS) was created to allow member states to share data on certain categories of people and goods.
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
EU citizens have the right to enter and stay in another member state.
Others may need a visa to enter the area, but then can travel freely throughout it, without undergoing checks, for up to three months within a six-month period. They are required to possess a valid travel document and have sufficient means of subsistence.
Non-EU citizens considered a threat to public security and health or international relations can be denied entry or permission to travel within the zone.
An EU state can impose controls at its internal borders for a period of up to 30 days, in response to a serious threat to public order or internal security. If such controls are to be introduced, the other EU states and the European Commission should be informed as soon as possible.
Consultations take place between EU countries and the Commission at least 15 days before the planned date for the reintroduction of border controls, to ensure mutual cooperation and consider if the measures are proportionate to the threat.
Under exceptional circumstances, the EU country concerned may impose checks at its internal border immediately, if required by considerations of public order or national security.
ORIGINS & MEMBERS
The Schengen area is named after a village in Luxembourg where a deal to cut border checks was signed in 1985 between the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and France.
The agreement took effect in 1995, abolishing checks at the internal borders of France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.
In December 2007, the European Union lifted land and sea border checks with nine of its newest members -- the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Airport checks in those countries were abolished in December 2008.
Switzerland joined the Schengen area in 2008 and abolished airport controls in 2009.
Border controls remain in place between the Schengen zone and EU members Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania until other EU governments agree to scrap the measures. Romania and Bulgaria had hoped to join in March but France and Germany disagreed because of concerns over corruption.
EU members Britain and Ireland have chosen not to join the zone, which is home to more than 400 million people.
Source: European Commission
WHAT IS THE SCHENGEN AGREEMENT?
The Schengen zone incorporates 25 European countries: 22 EU members plus Switzerland, Iceland and Norway, where free movement of people is guaranteed.
Immigration checks are carried out on the area's external borders under identical rules and procedures for entry; visas are harmonised.
There are no routine checks at internal frontiers, meaning travellers can, for example, drive 3,000 km (1,800 miles) from Portugal to Poland without encountering a border guard.
Setting up the system involved improving cooperation and coordination between police and the judiciary to protect internal security and fight organised crime.
The Schengen Information System (SIS) was created to allow member states to share data on certain categories of people and goods.
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
EU citizens have the right to enter and stay in another member state.
Others may need a visa to enter the area, but then can travel freely throughout it, without undergoing checks, for up to three months within a six-month period. They are required to possess a valid travel document and have sufficient means of subsistence.
Non-EU citizens considered a threat to public security and health or international relations can be denied entry or permission to travel within the zone.
An EU state can impose controls at its internal borders for a period of up to 30 days, in response to a serious threat to public order or internal security. If such controls are to be introduced, the other EU states and the European Commission should be informed as soon as possible.
Consultations take place between EU countries and the Commission at least 15 days before the planned date for the reintroduction of border controls, to ensure mutual cooperation and consider if the measures are proportionate to the threat.
Under exceptional circumstances, the EU country concerned may impose checks at its internal border immediately, if required by considerations of public order or national security.
ORIGINS & MEMBERS
The Schengen area is named after a village in Luxembourg where a deal to cut border checks was signed in 1985 between the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and France.
The agreement took effect in 1995, abolishing checks at the internal borders of France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.
In December 2007, the European Union lifted land and sea border checks with nine of its newest members -- the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Airport checks in those countries were abolished in December 2008.
Switzerland joined the Schengen area in 2008 and abolished airport controls in 2009.
Border controls remain in place between the Schengen zone and EU members Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania until other EU governments agree to scrap the measures. Romania and Bulgaria had hoped to join in March but France and Germany disagreed because of concerns over corruption.
EU members Britain and Ireland have chosen not to join the zone, which is home to more than 400 million people.
Source: European Commission
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