Schengen Area
| Use attributes for filter ! | |
| Area | 4312 |
|---|---|
| Established | 1995 |
| Population | 419,392,429 |
| GDP (Nominal) | US$15 trillion |
| Policy of | European Union |
| Did you know | Switzerland joined the Schengen Area on 12 December 2008. |
| Date of Reg. | |
| Date of Upd. | |
| ID | 1190917 |
About Schengen Area
The Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European states that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy.
Portugal housing crisis: 'I'll have to move back in with mum'
... " Golden Visas allowed investors from outside the EU to get a resident visa in Portugal to invest, and that would work as a way into the Schengen Area...
Croatia begins new euro and Schengen zone era
... It will be the 27th country in the Schengen Area, which allows 400 million to move freely between countries...
Schengen: No EU border-free zone for Romania and Bulgaria
... Created in 1985, the Schengen Area allows people and goods to travel freely, usually without showing travel or customs documents...
Why British royals face simmering resentment in Caribbean
... Pressure to end the veil of secrecy surrounding banking in tax havens has decimated some countries offshore finance industries, while EU threats to axe access to the Schengen Area to nations selling " golden passports" could soon put the boot into the region s lucrative citizenship by investment schemes too...
Hampshire family fall foul of post-Brexit passport rule
... " Incredibly vague Portugal is one of 26 European countries within the Schengen Area of free movement...
Coronavirus: New lows for deaths in France, Spain and Italy
... France is also clarified that a rule requiring those who go to the country, in isolation for two weeks, do not apply for guests from the EU countries, the Schengen Area and the United Kingdom...
Coronavirus: love knows no boundaries for older couple
... Europe s Schengen Area - the restriction-free travel through large parts of the continent borders between the Nations has to be seen again, in some cases, for the first time in 25 years...
Coronavirus-briefing: UK shutdown tactics under the microscope and global latest
... to see within the European Schengen Area, how much of the virus affected the freedom of movement on the continent so proud of its open borders...
Schengen: No EU border-free zone for Romania and Bulgaria
By Nick ThorpeBBC News Eastern Europe correspondent
European Union interior ministers have voted to accept Croatia into the 26-nation, border-free Schengen zone, but to reject Romania and Bulgaria.
The vote was greeted with relief in Zagreb, but anger and dismay in Bucharest and Sofia.
Germany's Foreign Minister said it was a bad day for Europe.
The European Commission had backed all three countries as meeting the criteria necessary for joining The Zone , which includes 420 million people.
" I'm also disappointed, " said EU Home Affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson .
Croatia joined the EU in 2013; Romania and Bulgaria became member states Six Years earlier.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic praised the decision, which means that Croatia will decommission its Border Crossings with EU neighbours Slovenia and Hungary on 1 January, the same day as it joins The Euro .
Created in 1985, the Schengen Area allows people and goods to travel freely, usually without showing travel or customs documents.
It includes 22 of the EU's 27 states as well as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Austria and the Netherlands voted against admitting Romania and Bulgaria, citing concerns that both were soft on illegal migration. The Most vehement opposition came from Austria.
" It is not right for a system that is not working in many places to be expanded at This Time , " said Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner , explaining his country's veto.
As its main reason for keeping Romania and Bulgaria out of Schengen, the government in Vienna cited a rapid increase in The Number of migrants entering Austria illegally through The West Balkan route.
However, political leaders in Romania and Bulgaria argue that relatively few cross their territory, and that their bid to join Schengen has been derailed for political reasons. They say the Austrian and Dutch governments are looking to attract the anti-immigrant vote.
EU Border Agency Frontex has reported 128,000 " irregular entries" into the EU So Far this year from The West Balkans, a 77% increase on 2021, with 22,300 in October alone. These figures include multiple attempts by the same people.
The Austrian government says 75,000 irregular migrants are currently in the country. Some 40% are from India and Tunisia, after flying into non-EU country Serbia legally under a no-visa scheme; a further 40% are from countries led by Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Syria.
Romania said it did not understand Austria's " inflexible decision".
The Head of the ruling Social Democrats , Marcel Ciolacu , went further: " European unity and stability received a tough blow today from a state that chose, in difficult times, to abandon its European comrades and serve instead the interests of Russia. "
But Bulgaria's acting Interior Minister , Ivan Demerdzhiev, was more diplomatic: " Austria has made it clear it is ready for compromise and wants a complete reform of the Schengen Area in those places where the mechanisms do not work, " He Said , Holding Out hope that Thursday's decision would be reversed next year.
There was criticism inside Austria as well, with migration researcher Judith Kohlenberger pointing out that the majority of people who had come to Austria for protection were already in the EU.
" To blame Romania and Bulgaria but not Hungary or even Croatia, which continue systematic push-backs, is both irrational and hypocritical, " She Said .
Source of news: bbc.com
Schengen Area Photos
