The free movement of persons is a fundamental right guaranteed by the EU to its citizens. It entitles every EU citizen to travel, work and live in any EU country without special formalities.

Schengen cooperation enhances this freedom by enabling citizens to cross internal borders without being subjected to border checks. The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 400 million EU citizens, as well as to many non-EU nationals, businessmen, tourists or other persons legally present on the EU territory.

Future of Schengen - 8th parliamentary term

EP Plenary session - 40th anniversary of the Schengen area agreement

40e anniversaire de la signature de l’accord de Schengen – Place des Étoiles – Hymne national et hymne européen

Ceremony marking the 40th Anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement, in Luxembourg..

Stockshot - Bulgaria joining the Schengen area.

Stockshot - Romania joining the Schengen area.

EP Plenary session - The Schengen evaluation mechanism

Zaventem Airport - Passport check

Schengen Area map

Press conference in Strasbourg on the Schengen space enlargement

On 1st January 2025 Romania and Bulgaria became full members of the Schengen Area after the checks on persons at the internal land borders were lifted. The internal air and sea border controls between Bulgaria and Romania and the countries of the Schengen area were already lifted since 31 March 2024. Welcoming both member states into the Schengen area will boost travel, trade and tourism and contribute to strengthening the internal market. This infoclip shows the borders between Bulgaria and Greece, as well as the port of the city of Varna, on the Black Sea.

Infoclip: Bulgaria joining the Schengen area

On 1 January 2025, Romania and Bulgaria entered the Schengen area. The Schengen Area is an area comprising 29 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Of the 27 EU member states, 25 participate in the Schengen Area. Cyprus and Ireland do not at this time. The four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, have signed agreements in association with the Schengen Agreement. This video stockshot provides illustration footage of free border passage between Romania and Bulgaria at the Calafat (Romania) – Vidin (Bulgaria) bridge over the Danube, and near the Nădlac II border crossing point on the A1/M43 motorway between Romania and Hungary.

Infoclip: Romania joining the Schengen area

Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs delivers her closing statement, following up on the debate among the MEPs on the reintroduction of internal border controls in the Schengen area and its impact on EU free movement. The recent decision taken by Germany and other Member States to reinstate checks has sparked concerns about the future of the Schengen zone.

The reintroduction of internal border controls in a number of Member States and its impact on the Schengen Area : Closing statement of Ylva JOHANSSON

MEPs debate focuses on the reintroduction of internal border controls in the Schengen area, and on its impact on the EU free movement. The recent decision taken by Germany and other Schengen members to reinstate checks has sparked concerns about the future of the Schengen zone and its ability to maintain open borders.

The reintroduction of internal border controls in a number of Member States and its impact on the Schengen Area : MEPs debate

Commissioner Ylva JOHANSSON opens the plenary debate on the reintroduction of internal border controls in the Schengen area and its impact on EU free movement. The recent decisions taken by Germany and other Schengen members to reinstate checks have sparked concerns about the future of the Schengen zone.

The reintroduction of internal border controls in a number of Member States and its impact on the Schengen Area: Opening statement by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

Creation of the Schengen Area on 26 March 1995: This compilation of images illustrates the situation and border controls on the roads and airports from the 50s to the 80s. It shows the signature of the agreements of Schengen and the changes it implies after, at the borders: the desertion of customs offices, the fast lane at the airport for EU nationals

Memoclip: Before and after the Schengen agreement

On 14 June 1985, in Schengen, Luxembourg. 5 of the 10 Member states of the European Economic Community signed the Schengen Agreement . This agreement led to the creation of the Schengen Area. It proposed measures intended to gradually abolish border checks at the signatories' common borders

Schengen Agreement

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