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Schengen Area
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The Schengen Area is a group of twenty-five European countries which have abolished all border controls between each other. It originates from the eponymous agreement signed in the Luxembourgish town of Schengen in 1985, which has since been absorbed into the European Union.
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Encyclopedia
The Schengen Area is a group of twenty-five European countries which have abolished all border controls between each other. It originates from the eponymous agreement signed in the Luxembourgish town of Schengen in 1985, which has since been absorbed into the European Union. All EU members except Ireland and the United Kingdom are required to implement Schengen and, with the exception of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, have done so. Three non-member states, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, have also implemented the Schengen rules. As such, the Area currently covers a population of over 450 million people and an area of .
Implementing the Schengen rules involves eliminating border controls with other Schengen members while simultaneously strengthening border controls with non-member states. The rules include provisions on common policy on the temporary entry of persons (including the Schengen visa), the harmonisation of external border controls, and cross-border police and judicial co-operation.
Membership
The Schengen Area currently consists of twenty-five states, including Monaco, which is treated as part of France. Before 2007, there were fifteen Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Of there Iceland and Norway aren't EU members but negotiated agreements with the EU in order to participate. The United Kingdom and Ireland are the only EU member states that are not full members of, or committed to join, the Schengen Area, having negotiated an opt-out from the Schengen acquis in the Treaty of Amsterdam, but opted into the provisions related to police and judicial cooperation a few years later. (See below for further information.)
In 2007 nine new countries — the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia — joined the Area, having joined the EU three years previously.
Before joining the Schengen Area countries must upgrade their border controls with non-Schengen states so as to ensure the Area's integrity. Cyprus, which also joined the EU in 2004, did not meet the necessary criteria and thus has requested a delay for a year, while Romania and Bulgaria, which joined the EU in 2007, are still bringing their border controls up to the required standard.
Schengen's newest member is Switzerland which joined the Area on 12 December 2008.
a. States outside the EU that are associated with the Schengen activities of the EU, and where the Schengen rules apply.
b. For overland borders and seaports; since 30 March 2008 also for airports.
c. East Germany became part of West Germany, joining Schengen, on 3 October 1990. Before this it remained outside the agreement.
d. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are indirectly included.
f. Despite some media reports, Helgoland is not outside Schengen; it is only outside the European Union Value Added Tax Area.
g. However, Jan Mayen is part of the Schengen Area.
Enlargement
| Prospective members |
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| Prospective implementation date | State |
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| 1 November 2009 (proposed)
| | | 2010 (estimated)
| | | March 2011 (estimated)
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The Schengen I agreement was originally signed on 14 June 1985, by five European Community states: France, West Germany and the Benelux countries of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement, signed on 19 June 1990, put the agreement into practice.
However, it took until 26 March 1995 for the agreement to be implemented by these countries. By then, Portugal and Spain had also signed, and the Federal Republic of Germany had absorbed East Germany. Italy and Greece had also signed, but they did not implement until 1997 and 2000, respectively. All other states also delayed the agreements' implementation. Austria signed in 1995 and implemented two years later. The Nordic states signed in 1996 and implemented in 2001. The Nordic countries had a previous passport free zone separate from the Community (and still have), which is why non-EU members Norway and Iceland are party to Schengen — as well as the undesirable cost of heavy policing on the long border which Norway shares with the EU states Sweden and Finland.
Before fully implementing the Schengen laws, each new state will need to have its preparedness assessed in four areas: air borders, visas, police cooperation, and personal data protection. This evaluation process involves a questionnaire and visits of EU experts to selected institutions and workplaces of the country under assessment. The Council of the European Union has reviewed the results between April and September 2007.
Status of the European microstates
Andorra is not integrated into the Schengen area, and border controls remain between it and both France and Spain. Citizens of EU countries require their national identity card to enter Andorra, while anyone else requires a passport or equivalent. Those travellers who need a visa to enter the Schengen area need a multiple-entry visa to visit Andorra, because entering Andorra means leaving the Schengen area.
| De facto members (open border) |
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| Flag | State | Since | Notes |
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| Monaco | | Schengen laws are administered as if Monaco were a part of France, with French authorities carrying out checks at Monaco's sea port. There are ceremonial guards at the road entrances to Monaco, but they only welcome entrants; they never stop them. | | San Marino | | Although not formally part of the Schengen area, it has an open border with Italy (although some random checks are made by Carabinieri, Polizia di San Marino and Guardia di Finanza).
| | Vatican City | | It has an open border (only exit) with Italy and has shown an interest in joining the agreement formally for closer cooperation in information sharing and similar activities covered by the Schengen Information System. |
Status of the United Kingdom and Ireland
The United Kingdom and Ireland are the only two EU members before the 2004 enlargement that did not sign the 1990 Schengen Convention (Schengen II) and that reserved themselves an opt-out in the Treaty of Amsterdam. Although that treaty transferred the existing Schengen rules into the law of the European Union, which is also applicable in the United Kingdom and in Ireland, not all provisions which were made under the Schengen treaties became applicable in the UK and Ireland. Furthermore, the new EU competence to pass new laws in the areas which were governed by the Schengen rules did not automatically extend to the UK and Ireland. However, the United Kingdom and Ireland may apply for an opt-in to partial or complete application of the Schengen laws; this selective "opt-in" arrangement has been ruled by the European Court of Justice as being entirely at the discretion of the Schengen states, and not a legal right of the UK or Ireland.
The UK and Ireland maintain a Common Travel Area with no border controls; thus Ireland is unable to join Schengen without dissolving this agreement with the UK, and incurring controls at its border with Northern Ireland. The UK remains reluctant to surrender its own border control system. In 1999, the UK made use of the possibility to opt in, and asked to participate in a number of provisions of the Schengen acquis, and this was granted by the EU Council on 29 May 2000, having effect on 2 June 2000, also in Gibraltar. Following that, Ireland made a similar request, which was granted by the EU Council on 28 February 2002, effective 1 April 2002. Therefore, the part of the Schengen rules which cover police and judicial co-operation do apply in both the United Kingdom and Ireland, but not the regulations covering visas and border controls.
The reluctance of the UK government to join the agreement has been criticised by the House of Lords, which accused the government of hampering the fight against cross-border crime due to the inability of the UK to access the Schengen Information System, which contains data on potentially problematic persons, for immigration control purposes.
A 1999 report by the European Communities Select Committee of the House of Lords recommended “full United Kingdom participation” in Schengen: “We believe that in the three major areas of Schengen—border controls, police co-operation (SIS) and visa/asylum/immigration policy—there is a strong case, in the interests of the United Kingdom and its people, for full United Kingdom participation.”
In October 2007, the UK Government announced plans to introduce an electronic border control system by 2009 and this led to speculation that the Common Travel Area would end. However, in response to a question on the issue, the former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stated "On the question of whether this is the end of the common travel area and should we join Schengen, the answer is 'No'."
Rules concerning border controls
Travel without internal border controls
Before the implementation of the Schengen Agreement, most borders in Western Europe were patrolled and a vast network of border posts existed around the continent, to check the identity and entitlement of people wishing to travel from one country to another. Visa requirements also varied and the possessors of visas to visit one European country would not necessarily be entitled to visit others without separate visas.
Since the implementation of the Schengen rules, border posts have been closed (and often demolished) between participating countries. The Schengen Borders Code requires participating states to remove all obstacles to free traffic flow at internal borders. Thus, road, rail and air passengers no longer have their identity checked by border guards when crossing borders (however, security controls by carriers are still permissible). Visitors to Schengen countries can receive a Schengen Visa which entitles them to travel unmolested throughout the Schengen Area.
Regulation of external border controls
Schengen also requires member countries to apply strict checks on people entering or exiting the ares. These checks are co-ordinated by the European Union's Frontex agency, and subject to common rules. The details of border controls, surveillance, and the conditions under which permission to enter into the Schengen area may be granted are exhaustively detailed in a European Union regulation called Schengen Borders Code. All persons crossing external borders — inbound or outbound — have to be subject to a minimum idnetity check. The entitlement of travellers to enter the Schengen Area also need to be checked when relevant. Exit controls allow, among other things, to determine if a person leaving the area was entitled to enter the area in the first place, whether that person had extended his or her stay beyond the permitted period, and to check against alerts on persons and objects included in the Schengen Information System and reports in national data files. For example when an arrest warrant had been issued by a Schengen State.
The external border controls are located at roads crossing a border, at airports, at seaports, and onboard trains. Usually there is no fence along borders in the terrain, but there are exceptions like the Ceuta border fence. However, surveillance camera systems, some equipped with infrared technology, are located at some more critical spots, for example at the border between Slovakia and Ukraine. Along the southern coast of the Schengen countries, coast guards are making a substantial effort to prevent private boats from entering without permission.
The Schengen rules require that all passenger carriers across the Schengen external border must check, before boarding, if the passenger has the travel document and visa required for entry. This is to prevent persons from applying for asylum at the passport control, after landing within the Schengen area.
Entry conditions for third-country nationals
The Schengen rules include uniform rules as to the type of visas which may be issued for a short-term stay, not exceeding 90 days, on the territory of one, several or all of those States. The rules also include common requirements for entry into the Schengen area, and common procedures for refusal of entry.
According to the Schengen Borders Code, the conditions applying to third-country nationals for entry are as follows:
- The third-country national is in possession of a valid travel document or documents authorising them to cross the border; the acceptance of travel documents for this purpose remains within the domain of the member states;
- The traveller either possesses a valid visa (if required) or a valid residence permit;
- The traveller can justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay, and has sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to his or her country of origin or transit to a third country into which the traveller is certain to be admitted, or is in a position to acquire such means lawfully;
- There has not been issued an alert in the Schengen Information System for refusal of entry of the traveller, and
- The traveller is not considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Schengen states.
In other words, mere possession of a Schengen visa does not confer automatic right of entry. It will only be granted if the other transit or entry conditions laid down by EU legislation have been met, notably the means of subsistence that aliens must have at their disposal, as well as the purpose and the conditions of the stay.
Right of stay
A third-country national who has been granted entry may stay in the Schengen area and travel between Schengen states as long as the conditions for entry are still fulfilled. For stays which exceed three months, so-called national visa (category D) are issued by the relevant Schengen state where the third-country national intends to reside. Any third-country national who is a holder of a residence permit of a Schengen state, which is granted for a stay which exceeds three months, is allowed to travel to any other member state for a period of up to three months.
Schengen visa
The requirement of a visa for short-term stays in the Schengen area which do not involve employment or any self-employed activity are set out in an EU regulation. The list of the nationals which require a visa for a short-term stay (so-called Annex I list) and the visa-free nationals (so-called Annex II list) refers to the nationality of the third-country national and not to the passport or travel document he or she is holding (with an exception to holders of Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR passport holders, and another exception vis a vis holders of refugee travel documents, where the country which issued the travel document is relevant). Third-country nationals who intend to take up employment or self-employed activity may be required by member states to obtain a visa even if they are listed on the Schengen visa-free list; usual business trips are normally not considered employment in this sense. Member States may establish, with respect to entries and stays in their own territory, additional visa requirements or waivers for persons holding diplomatic, official, or other special passports.
The uniform visa is granted in the form of a sticker affixed by a Member State onto a passport, travel document or another valid document which entitles the holder to cross the border, provided that the entry conditions are met at the time of entry.
It is granted in the following categories:
- Category A refers to an airport transit visa. It is required for some few nationals for passing through the international transit area of airports during a stop-over or transfer between two sections of an international flight. The requirement to have this visa is an exception to the general right to transit without a visa through an international transit area of an airport.
- Category B refers to a transit visa. It is required by nationals who are not visa-free for travelling from one non-Schengen state to another non-Schengen state, in order to pass through the Schengen area. Each transit may not exceed five days.
- Category C refers to a short-term stay visa. They are issued for reasons other than to immigrate. They entitle holders to carry out a continuous visit or several visits whose duration does not exceed three months in any half-year from the date of first entry.
- Category D refers to national visa. They are issued by a Schengen state in accordance with its national legislation as with respect to the conditions (however, a uniform sticker is used). Only after the holder has obtained a residence title after arrival in the destination country (or a different visa), he may again travel to other Schengen countries.
- Category D+C visas combine the functions of the visa of both categories: They are intended to allow the holder to enter the issuing Schengen state for long-term stay in that state, but also to travel in the Schengen area like a holder of a Category C visa.
- FTD and FRTD are special visas issued for road (FTD) or rail (FRTD) transit only between mainland Russian Federation and its western exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast.
Under specific circumstances, the territorial validity of a Schengen visa of the categories B, C, or D+C is issued with territorial validity to not all of the Schengen states. Such visa may, for example, be issued for humanitarian or other specific reasons. Territorial validity may also be restricted in case that the travel document in which it is affixed is not accepted by all of the Schengen states. In such cases, the visa authorises a foreigner entry, stay, and exit exclusively in the territory of one or more Schengen member states for which the visa is valid.
Under certain conditions, seamen are issued a visa at the border in order to board a ship or travel home from a ship in a Schengen harbour. Furthermore, a visa may also be issued at the border in exceptional cases, e.g. emergencies.
To obtain a Schengen visa, a traveller must take the following steps:
- He or she must first identify which Schengen country is the main destination. This determines the State responsible for deciding on the Schengen visa application and therefore the embassy or the consulate where the traveller will have to lodge the application. If the main destination cannot be determined, the traveller should file the visa application at the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country of first entry. If the Schengen State of the main destination or first entry does not have a diplomatic mission or consular post in his country, the traveller must contact the embassy or the consulate of another Schengen country, normally located in the traveller's country, which represents, for the purpose of issuing Schengen visas, the country of the principal destination or first entry.
- The traveller must then present the Schengen visa application to the responsible embassy or consulate. A harmonised form is to be submitted, together with a valid passport and, if necessary, the documents supporting the purpose and conditions of the stay in the Schengen area (aim of the visit, duration of the stay, lodging). The traveller will also have to prove his or her means of subsistence, i.e., the funds available to cover, on the one hand, the expenses of the stay, taking into account its duration and the destination, and, on the other hand, the cost of the return to the home country. Certain embassies or consulates sometimes call the applicant to appear in person in order to explain verbally the reasons for the visa application.
- Finally, the traveller must have travel insurance that covers, for a minimum of €30,000, any expenses incurred as a result of emergency medical treatment or repatriation for health reasons. The proof of the travel insurance must in principle be provided at the end of the procedure, i.e. when the decision to grant the Schengen visa has already been made. This type of insurance can be easily found on the web from well-known insurers.
Requirements for family members of an EEA citizen differ from those indicated above. In general for family members of an EEA citizen, there is no requirement to provide information about one's employment, or to prove one's means of subsistence. In addition, no fee is required for the visa to be issued.
Internal movement of holders of a residence title
Third-country nationals who are holders of a residence title of a Schengen state may freely enter into and stay in any other Schengen state for a period of up to three months. For a longer stay, they require a residence title of the target member state. Third-country long-term residents of a member state enjoy, under certain circumstances, the right to settle in other member states..
The right of entry without additional visa was extended to the non-EEA family members of EEA nationals exercising their treaty right of free movement who hold a valid residence card or residence permit of their EEA host country and wish to visit any other EEA member state for a short stay up to 90 days. This is implied in Directive 2004/38/EC, Article 5(2) provided that they travel together with the EEA national or join their spouse/partner at a later date (Article 6(2)). Several member countries (as at December 2008), however, do not follow the Directive in this respect
to the effect that non-EEA family members living in non-Schengen EU countries may still face difficulties (denial of boarding the vessel by the transport company, denial to enter by border police) when travelling to certain Schengen countries with their residence permit alone. Likewise non-Schengen member EU countries may deny entry to Schengen residence permit holders without an additional visa.
Local border traffic at external borders
Schengen States which share an external land border with a non-Schengen country are authorised by virtue of an EU regulation to conclude or maintain bilateral Agreements with neighbouring third countries for the purpose of implementing a local border traffic regime. The regulation stipulates the conditions which have to be met by such agreements. The agreements have to provide for the introduction of a local border traffic permit under the relevant scheme. Such permits must contain the name and a picture of the holder, as well as a statement that its holder is not authorised to move outside the border area and that any abuse shall be subject to penalties. The border area may include any administrative district within 30 kilometres from the external border (and, if any district extends beyond that limit, the whole district up to 50 kilometres from the border).
Holders of such permit may cross the external borders, once there has not been issued an alert in the Schengen Information System for refusal of entry, and they do not form a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Member States. The question whether an additional identity document is required for crossing the border (and which type may be used), and for how long the permit holder may stay in the border area, may be regulated bilaterally. The maximum permitted period of stay may not exceed three months. The features of the form of the permit have to comply with the uniform format for residence permits for third-country
nationals. Permits are valid from one to five years.
Permits may only be issued to persons having been lawful residents in the border area of a country neighbouring a Schengen State for a period specified in the relevant bilateral agreement, which generally has to be at least one year. The applicant for the permit has to show legitimate reasons to frequently cross an external land border under the local border traffic regime, and must meet the specific entry requirements as described above. Schengen states must keep a central register of the permits issued and have to provide immediate access to the relevant data to other Schengen states.
Before the conclusion of an agreement with a neighbouring country, the Schengen state must receive approval from the European Commission, which has to confirm the legality of its draft. The agreement may only be concluded if the neighbouring country grants at least reciprocal rights to the relevant Schengen state, and readmission of illegally staying persons from the neighbouring country is ensured. For local border traffic, fast lanes or special border crossings may be introduced.
Special arrangement on entry for Croatians
There is an exception to these rules in the case of citizens of Croatia. Based on the Pre-Schengen bilateral agreements between Croatia and its neighboring EU countries (Italy, Hungary and Slovenia), Croatian citizens are allowed to cross the border with ID card only (passport not obligatory). Many people living near the border cross it several times a day (some work across the border, or have land on the other side of the border), especially on the border with Slovenia, which was unmarked for centuries as Croatia and Slovenia were both part of Habsburg Empire (1527–1918) and Yugoslavia (1918–1991). As Croatia is expected to join EU in a matter of years, an interim solution, which received permission from the European Commission, was found: every Croatian citizen is allowed to cross the Schengen border into Hungary, Italy or Slovenia with an ID card and an evidention card that is issued by Croatian police at border exit control. The police authorities of Hungary, Italy or Slovenia will then stamp the evidention card both on entry and on exit. Croatian citizens, however, are not allowed to enter any other Schengen agreement countries without a valid passport and entry stamp, though they are allowed to travel between Hungary, Italy and Slovenia. This practice will be abandoned once Croatia becomes an EU member state, which will allow its citizens to enter any member country using only an ID card.
The Western Balkan states
Visa-free regime negotiations between the EU and the Western Balkans (excluding Croatia) were launched in the first half of 2008, and are currently underway. These countries (Albania and the former Yugoslav republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia) had already signed a facilitated visa regime with the Schengen states in 2007 (UK and Ireland excluded), including shorter waiting periods, free or lower visa fees, and fewer documentation requirements when compared to other countries whose citizens require C, D, or C+D visas. However, in reality this facilitation stays only on paper and many citizens who should be getting visas more easily have complained that the process of issuing Schengen visas is now even more complicated and time consuming than before these facilitations . The visa free negotiations are being conducted on an individual basis, and roadmaps with a list of conditions to be fulfilled have been customised for each Western Balkan state. These negotiations may be concluded as early as the first half of 2009, and most probably not before 2010; the Western Balkan citizens will then be able to enter the Schengen area without a visa for a visit of 90 days in a six months period.
Temporary reintroduction of internal border controls
A Schengen state is permitted by articles 23 to 31 of the Schengen Borders Code to reinstate border controls for a short period if deemed in the interest of national security, but has to follow a consultation procedure before such an action. This occurred in Portugal during the 2004 European Football Championship and in France for the ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Spain temporarily reinstated border controls during the wedding of Crown Prince Felipe in 2004. It was used again by France shortly after the London bombings in July 2005. Finland briefly reinstated border controls during the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in August 2005 and for the 16th OSCE Ministerial Council in 2008, as did Germany for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and again in 2007 for the 33rd G8 summit in Heiligendamm. Austria also did so for the UEFA Euro2008 in June 2008.
Air security
When travelling by air between Schengen countries, or within a single Schengen country, identification (usually passport or national ID card) is requested at the airport check-in counters. Also, the nationals who need a visa for Schengen countries are asked to present it together with a valid passport. Although immigration control is generally not applied at points of departure or arrival (essentially, the flight is classed as 'domestic'), this lower form of border control is performed at airport check-in counters.
ID checks at hotels and other places
According to the Schengen rules, hotels and other types of commercial accommodation must register all foreign citizens, including citizens of other Schengen states, by requiring the completion of a registration form by their own hand. This does not apply to accompanying spouses and minor children or members of travel groups. In addition, a valid identification document has to be produced to the hotel manager or staff. The Schengen rules do not require any other procedures; thus, the Schengen states are free to regulate further details on the content of the registration forms, and identity documents which are to be produced, and may also require the persons exempted from registration by Schengen laws to be registered. Enforcement of these rules varies by country.
Customs control
While border controls serve the purpose of checking whether a person meets the entry and exit requirements, a customs control relates to the goods that are transported across a border. While the EU (and preceding Communities) always enjoyed the exclusive competence of regulating customs procedures, the Schengen II Convention was originally drafted as an international treaty outside the scope of the EU. Thus, the contracting states had to find a solution for the abolition of customs controls without being competent for regulating this matter. To this end, Article 120 of the Schengen II Convention provides that the contracting parties are to ensure that controls of goods "do not unjustifiably impede the movement of goods at internal borders". The parties are to facilitate the movement of goods across internal borders by providing for clearance of goods when they were cleared through customs for home use. Although the clearance could, according to the Convention, be conducted either within the country or at an internal border, the Schengen states encourage customs clearance within their respective territories. As far as such simplifications could not be achieved, the Schengen states bound themselves to agree on an alteration of existing rules either amongst themselves or within the framework of the European Community.
The European Union has abolished not only customs controls, but also other procedures for the administrative processing of goods at internal borders, e.g. for internal taxation, leaving no checks at the borders between EU states.
At borders between the European Union Value Added Tax Area and those zones of the EU that lie outside it, the presence of customs authorities is permitted. Customs are also present in connection with travel within one single member state, if a part of that state is located outside the EU common customs area e.g. between Heligoland and mainland Germany. However, the presence of customs authorities at such borders would not mean that persons and goods passing the borders may be checked beyond the scope of spot checks, or on the basis of available intelligence, and such checks have to be non-systematic in order to comply with the Schengen Borders Code.
With respect to travel between EU members where one is non-Schengen, there are identity (passport) checks, but no customs checks; this applies, for instance, between Ireland or the U.K. and mainland Europe. However, see "Booze cruise".
Since the customs forces form the financial police of a state, some countries allow their such authorities to conduct routine inland checks on persons, vehicles, and goods, e.g. to detect untaxed goods, illegal workers, or persons abusing social benefits.
Norway and Iceland
Norway and Iceland are the only two states that have fully implemented the Schengen agreements but are not members of the EU. (Switzerland will be the third such state in March 2009 when it is expected to implement air travel changes; surface travel changes were implemented on 12 December 2008.) Even though they belong to the European Economic Area, some administrative handling of goods imported from the EU may still be required at their borders. Private persons are only allowed to bring small amounts of goods and alcohol over the border tax-free whereas within the EU, any amount of goods and alcohol meant for personal use may be taken tax-free across borders.
Thus, the original provisions of the Schengen II Convention which regulate controls of goods originally could not be — and were not — set into force with relation to Norway and Iceland.
However, the Schengen Borders Code, which became law after the association of Norway and Iceland, provides that any police measures at the border may not "have an effect equivalent to border checks". Checks are permitted when they do not have border control as an objective, are based on general police information and experience regarding possible threats, are devised and executed in a manner clearly distinct from systematic checks on persons at the external borders, or if they are carried out on the basis of spot-checks. Since a border check is defined as any check carried out at border crossing point, to ensure that persons, including their means of transport and the objects in their possession, may be authorised to enter or leave the territory, routine custom controls are not permissible at internal Schengen borders. The Schengen Borders Code does not provide for any exemption of its scope of application in relation to Norway and Iceland, and is expressly applicable to those two countries.
Notwithstanding this, the authorities of Iceland are of the opinion that they may enforce the same level of customs procedures towards all travellers entering and leaving the country, as the country is not a part of the EU customs union.
Sweden and Finland
Sweden and Finland, members of the EU and of the Schengen area, still maintain some customs checks in order to control the smuggling of drugs and alcohol. In accordance with the Schengen Borders Code, this is permissible, as long as cars are only stopped when a suspicion of smuggling has been established. However, since vehicles have to stop at the toll plaza at the Swedish end of the Oresund Bridge from Copenhagen, cars are able to be checked and drivers questioned by the customs officials at will.
Switzerland
Switzerland, which belongs neither to the EU nor to the European Economic Area, has been associated to the Schengen area and began implementing Schengen rules on 12 December 2008. Initially border identity checks for travellers have been lifted only for land borders while for air travellers, the controls will be lifted on 29 March 2009, subject to certain conditions.
Similar to the arrangements made between the EU, Norway, and Iceland, the accession agreement concluded between the EU and Switzerland provides for an exemption of the application of the rules concerning controls of goods at borders. However, the much stricter provisions in the Schengen Borders Code providing for the abolition of internal border checks do not contain any exemption with respect to Switzerland. The Swiss Border Guard Corps are of the opinion that they will not be entitled to perform systematic customs or other checks on persons for the mere reason that they cross the border; once the Schengen rules have been implemented in Switzerland, they are planning to continue to perform spot-checks, which are based on risk analysis of the authorities.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein signed a Schengen-related association with the European Union on 28 February 2008. Liechtenstein is expected to join the Schengen Area on 1 November 2009. Until then, its borders with Austria and Switzerland are considered Schengen-external borders. Unlike Switzerland, Liechtenstein belongs to the European Economic Area.
The country has had an open border with Switzerland since 1923 but with Switzerland becoming part of the Schengen open border area on 12 December 2008, Liechtenstein's border with Switzerland became a Schengen-external border requiring border checks. For Switzerland, its open border with Liechtenstein was an important issue as some EU states wanted to use the Schengen enlargement to pressure Liechtenstein regarding fraud issues. Swiss customs and border guards have already been manning Liechtenstein's border crossing with Austria at Schaanwald-Tisis, effectively treating Liechtenstein as internal to Switzerland.
Until Liechtenstein becomes part of the Schengen Area in late 2009, an interim arrangement was reached for the Liechtenstein-Swiss border. Instead of on-site immigration and customs checkpoints, all roads into Switzerland from the principality will be subject to video surveillance. This would enable the border to remain open. The Austria-Liechtenstein border crossing at Schaanwald-Tisis would still be manned by Swiss customs and border guards but its operating hours would be expanded to 24 hours.
Liechtenstein does not have any airports and its government has issued a prohibition of takeoffs and landings at the Balzers Heliport with respect to non-Schengen countries to ensure that Liechtenstein has no Schengen external border and therefore does not represent an immigration risk for the Schengen area, even with open borders with Switzerland.
Rules concerning police co-operation
The Schengen rules also include provisions for sharing intelligence, such as information about people, lost and stolen documents, vehicles, via the Schengen Information System. This means that potentially problematic persons cannot 'disappear' simply by moving from one Schengen country to another.
Administrative assistance
According to Article 39 of the Schengen II Convention, police administrations of the Schengen States are required to grant each other administrative assistance in the course of the prevention and detection of criminal offences according to the relevant national laws and within the scope of their relevant powers. They may cooperate through central bodies or, in case of urgency, also directly with each other. The Schengen provisions entitle the competent ministries of the Schengen States to agree on other forms of cooperation in border regions.
With respect to actions which imply constraint or the presence of police officers of a Schengen State in another Schengen State, specific rules apply.
Cross-border observation
Under Article 40 of the Schengen II Convention, police observation may be continued across a border if the person observed is presumed to have participated in an extraditable criminal offence. Prior authorization of the second state is required, except if the offence is a felony as defined in Article 40 (7) of the Schengen II Convention, and if urgency requires the continuation of the observation without prior consent of the second state. In the latter case, the authorities of the second state must be informed before the end of the observation in its territory, the request for consent has to be handed over as soon as possible, and the observation has to be terminated on request of the second state, or if consent has not been granted after five hours. The police officers of the first state are bound to the laws of the second state, must carry identification which shows that they are police officers, and are entitled to carry their service weapons. They may not stop or arrest the observed persons, and must report to the second state after the operation has been finished. On the other hand, the second state is obliged to assist the enquiry subsequent to the operation, including judicial proceedings.
Hot pursuit
Under Article 41 of the Schengen II Convention, police from one Schengen state may cross national borders to chase their target, if it is not possible to notify the police of the second state before entry into that territory, or if the authorities of the second state are unable to reach the scene in time to take over the pursuit. The Schengen states may declare if they restrict the right to hot pursuit into their territory in time or in distance, and if they allow the neighbouring states to arrest persons on their territory. However, the second state is obliged to challenge the pursued person in order to establish the person's identity or to make an arrest if so requested by the pursuing state. The right to hot pursuit is limited to land borders. The pursuing officers either have to be in uniform or their vehicles have to be marked. They are permitted to carry service weapons, which may be used only in self-defence. After the operation, the first state has to report to the second state about its outcome.
Responsibility and rights
Under Article 42 of the Schengen II Convention, police officers of a state who became victims of a criminal offence in another Schengen state while on duty there, enjoy the same right of compensation as an officer of the second state. According to Article 43 of the Schengen II Convention, the state which employs a police officer is liable towards that state for damages for illegal actions performed in another state by such police officer.
Liaison officers
Article 47 of the Schengen II agreement provides for the permanent deployment of liaison officers to other Schengen states.
Further bilateral measures
Many neighbouring Schengen states have introduced further bilateral measures for police cooperation in border regions, which are expressly permitted under Article 39 subsection 5 of the Schengen Agreement. Such cooperation may include joint police radio frequencies, police control centres, and tracing units in border regions. Furthermore, police laws of some Schengen States allow for the ad hoc conferment of police powers to police officers of other EU states.
Prüm Convention and Schengen III Regulation
An agreement was signed on 27 May 2005 by Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, and Belgium at Prüm, Germany. This agreement, based on the principle of availability which began to be discussed after the Madrid bomb attack on 11 March 2004, could enable them to exchange all data regarding DNA, fingerprint and Vehicle Registration Data of concerned persons and to cooperate against terrorism. Furthermore, it contains provisions for the deployment of armed sky marshals on intra-Schengen flights, joint police patrols, entry of (armed) police forces into the territory of another state for the prevention of immediate danger, cooperation in case of mass events or disasters. Furthermore, the police officer responsible for an operation in a state may, in principle, decide inhowfar the police forces of the other states which take part in the operation may use their weapons or exercise other powers. Sometimes known as the Prüm Convention, this treaty is becoming known as the Schengen III Agreement. Certain (non-Schengen / 3rd pillar) provisions were adopted into EU law for all EU states Members in June 2008, as Council Decision with its provisions falling under the third pillar of the EU. With respect to subject matters which are to be regulated within the first pillar of the EU, the implementation would require an initiative from the European Commission, which enjoys the monopoly (except the Member States) on legislative initiative in that pillar. The Commission has not made use of its right to initiative with regard to such content of the Prüm Convention. The Prum Decision (2008/615/JHA and its implementing Decision 2008/616/2008) provide for Law Enforcement Cooperation in criminal matters primarily related to exchange of Fingerprint, DNA (both on a hit no-hit basis) and Vehicle registration (direct access via Eucaris system) data. The data exchange provisions are to be implemented until 2012.
Judicial cooperation
Direct Legal Assistance
The Schengen states are obliged to grant each other legal assistance in criminal justice with respect to all types of offences and misdemeanors (Article 49 of the Schengen II Convention), this including tax and other fiscal offences (Article 50 of the Schengen II Convention), except for certain small crimes, as defined in Article 50 of the Schengen II Convention. All Schengen states may serve court documents by mail to another Schengen State, but must attach a translation, if there is reason to believe that the addressee would not understand the original language of the document served (Article 52 of the Schengen II Convention). Requests for legal assistance may be exchanged directly between the judicial authorities of the Schengen states, without having to use diplomatic channels (Article 53 of the Schengen II Convention).
In Articles 54 to 58 of the Schengen II Convention, detailed rules concerning the application of the principle that no person may be sentenced twice for the same criminal offence in the Schengen States are laid down. Articles 59 to 69 of the Schengen II Convention contain rules concerning extradition between Schengen States and the enforcement of prison sentences which were handed down in one state in a different state.
Controlled substances
In Articles 67 to 76 of the Schengen II Convention, rules are laid down with respect to the traffic of controlled substances. The Schengen states are obliged to prosecute illegal trade in narcotics. They have to provide for the forfeiture of profits which derive from illegal trade of controlled substances. The control of cross-border legal trade in such substances has to be exercised in the territory, not at the borders. Persons are permitted to transport controlled substances into the territory of other Schengen states if they carry proper official documentation of an according authorization from a Schengen state, e.g. a medical prescription for narcotics.
Weapons and ammunition
In Articles 77 to 91 of the Schengen II Convention, the control of weapons and ammunition are set out in detail. Regulations regarding which weapons may only be possessed with a valid licence, and which weapons are free, are either contained in the convention itself or may be subject to further legislation at the EU (Schengen) level. Accordingly, the Schengen rules also harmonize the prerequisites for granting permits to produce, purchase, and trade in weapons and ammunition. The according Schengen rules are supplemented by the Council Directive 91/477/EEC of 18 June 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons, which introduced a European Firearms Pass which entitles the holder to carry a firearm into the territory of other Member States.
Mutuality of visa requirements
It is a political goal of the European Union to achieve freedom from visa requirements for citizens of the European Union at least in such countries the citizens of which may enter the Schengen area without visa. To this end, the European Commission negotiates with third-countries, the citizens of which do not require visas to enter the Schengen area for short-term stays, about the abolishment of visa requirements which exist for at least some EU member states. The European Commission involves the member state concerned into the negotiations, and has to frequently report on the mutuality situation to the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission may recommend the temporary restoration of the visa requirement for nationals of the third country in question.
The European Commission has dealt with the question of mutuality of the abolishment of visa requirements towards third countries on the highest political level. With regard to Mexico and New Zealand, it already has achieved complete mutuality. With respect to Canada, the Commission has achieved visa-free status for all members but Romania and Bulgaria; with respect to the U.S. it suggests examining the effects of new legislation enacted there, but reserves itself "the right to propose retaliatory measures."
Statistics
According to information of the European Commission, which is partly based on partly estimated figures received from the Member States, and which was published in connection with the Commission's plans to introduce a biometric entry and exit registration system in the Schengen zone,
- there are 1,792 designated and controlled border crossing points at the external EU border; of them, 665 are located at air borders, 871 at sea borders, and 246 at land borders;
- 880 million persons crossed the external borders of the EU27 in 2005, and 878 million persons did so in 2006; based on the tourism statistics of overnight stays, the statistics lead to a figure of 300 million external border crossings per annum;
- more than 300,000 persons were refused entry at external EU borders in the year 2006, compared to 280,000 in 2005 and 397,000 in 2004; in most cases, refusal was based on insufficient travel documents or the suspicion of intended illegal immigration;
- up to 8 million illegal immigrants stayed within the EU in 2006, an estimated 80% of them within the Schengen area;
- in 2006, 500,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended in the EU, compared to 429,000 in 2005 and 396,000 in 2004, and 75% of the illegal immigrants that were detected on the territory of Member States in the year 2006 were nationals which require a visa to the EU.
According to information of the SaarLorLux Regional Commission, about 167,000 workers commute daily in the Greater Luxembourg Region, crossing an internal Schengen border to get to their workplace. Cross-border commuting in that region makes out 40% of the overall cross-border commuting in the EU15.
As of October 2008, about 733,000 persons were registered in the Schengen Information System for refusal of entry.
Footnotes
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