Today , Europe is a place of attraction for tourists from all over the world. Attractions on its territory are visited annually by millions of people. To facilitate travel across the borders of European states, a special control procedure has been introduced, acting on the basis of the Schengen Agreement.
Schengen countries have adopted a unified visa system and developed common legal rules by which it operates. An interesting story is the signing of a legal act that laid the foundation of this system.
The Schengen Agreement
The history of the Schengen agreement begins on June 14, 1985. Initially, the joint document was approved by five European countries: Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany and France. The place of signing was the deck of the ship, cruising on the Moselle River near the town of Schengen. It was this Luxembourgish town that gave its name to the document. The signed agreement contained norms aimed at significantly simplifying border controls between participating states. This legal act has laid the foundations
The Schengen Convention, which was adopted in 1990. In 2000, the Schengen rules became part of the
regulatory framework of the European Union.
Which states are included in the Schengen zone?
Persons wishing to visit Europe are entered into a single information database. All Schengen countries have access to this base. The list of these states includes: Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, France, Finland, Czech Republic , Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia. Only a small number of European countries remain that are not yet covered by the agreement. Old passport control rules have survived in Ireland and the UK. In the future, several more states plan to bring domestic legislation to the form in which the Schengen countries act . 2013 can add Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania to the main list. To date, the rules of the Schengen legislation of the EU are not fully applied on their territory.
Schengen visa
A visa giving the right to enter Schengen countries is issued by the diplomatic mission of any of the above states. In this case, it is required to submit documents that will prove the identity and financial viability of the tourist, as well as confirm the purpose and route of the trip. Visas issued are divided into several types:
- Type A. A visa of this type is issued for a transit flight through Schengen countries. Its presence permits staying within the airport, but does not provide for the possibility of movement within the state.
- Type B. Gives the right to travel on any ground transport through all Schengen countries. The visa is of an urgent nature and is issued for a period of 1 to 5 days.
- Type C. Allows you to stay in the Schengen state. This visa is also urgent and valid for no more than 90 days.