In 1985, a truly historical event occurred in the town of Schengen (Luxembourg). After lengthy preparatory work, a document was signed establishing certain relations between five countries: Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Grand County of Luxembourg. The last three countries became the core of the Schengen agreement, since in 1921 they formed the Benelux Customs and Economic Union . Only ten years later, in March 1995, the Schengen agreement became effective.
By agreement, the territories of these countries became the Schengen zone. Countries in the Schengen zone do not have internal border control, but, as a single state, have border and visa controls at the external borders of the zone.
The Schengen visa issued by one of the countries, under the aforementioned agreement, allows you to cross the borders of the Schengen agreement without visa problems for travelers and temporary travelers.
But with police control or at the airport, the hotel requires the presentation of a passport or some other document proving the identity of a citizen of a member state of the European Union. Sometimes, due to some political events, control at the borders of Schengen countries is restored for a month, but no more.
The Schengen countries are actively developing judicial and police cooperation, are developing uniform rules for the entry and stay of temporarily entering.
Currently, the Schengen area includes 27 European countries. Plus de facto: micro-states of Monaco, Vatican and San Marino. Andorra, not being a party to the Schengen agreement, has open borders with France and Spain.
Almost all Schengen countries are member states of the European Union. Not included in the EU: Iceland, Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein, but they, according to the Amsterdam Treaty, have been part of the Schengen zone since 1999.
The territory, which can be traveled without separate state visas, developed gradually.
Nine states: Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia signed the Schengen Agreement only in 2007. They are all members of the European Union since 2004. At the same time, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania were denied admission to the Schengen area for various reasons. The decision on their entry is still being postponed.
In 2008, Switzerland became a party to the Schengen Agreement, and Liechtenstein in 2011. They entered the Schengen zone under the same conditions as Iceland and Norway (not EU members): these states are defined as bound by Schengen obligations, the Schengen visa is valid in their territories.
The Schengen zone is an area of 4 312 099 square kilometers, more than 400 million people live in the “zone”. That is, most of Europe is the Schengen space.
The countries of the Schengen agreement are united by the regulatory framework of a single legislation. The Schengen area has common customs rules.
The agreement allows all citizens of the European Union to make business trips, travels, and generally travel across Europe without visas. Citizens of states that are not members of this union, having received a visa from a country party to the Schengen Agreement, can also freely move around the Schengen space.
In fact, for a traveler or business person with a Schengen visa, the Schengen countries become one huge country without borders, customs, and therefore without problems and difficulties.
There are restrictions, the so-called corridors - the terms in which a Schengen visa is valid. In Germany and Italy you can stay only 14 days, in Spain - 30 days, France allows you to stay 2 months, but Finland defines a visa corridor for a whole year.