Yet more EU jargon! What exactly does it mean for you and me? Schengen: the password that allows you to travel freely from one country to another! Well, nearly...

Eureka: The Schengen area

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16027955/j003-0039-en_mf.srt

It's the end of border checks  and queues.

They've almost  all disappeared within the EU.

Today, we can travel almost anywhere  in the EU without a passport,

thanks to Schengen, which has played  a big part in the building of the EU.

In 1985, five European countries  board the same boat.

Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg  and the Netherlands

They sign the agreement in Schengen,  a small town in Luxembourg.

The aim is to allow people to move freely  from one country to the next.

The land border checks  begin to be relaxed.

The Schengen agreement is named after  the town, where it was signed. Original!

The name was then given to  a large area with no borders.

From 1990, other countries  jump on the bandwagon,

Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece,  Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

In the mid-90s, 13 countries are part  of the Schengen agreement.

Checks are scrapped at internal borders  and tightened at external borders.

In 1995, border checks disappear  completely in the Schengen area.

On the roads, the customs offices  lie empty and look like museums.

After that, controls at ports  and airports are closed.

We are free to travel between countries  but are not completely without restriction.

The Schengen states want to ensure  the security of their shared area.

Their police, customs  and legal systems join forces.

Together, they carry out random checks  in their countries,

Specialised teams can intervene  at any given moment.

And checks are made tighter  at external borders.

The aim is to combat crime  and illegal immigration.

To enter the Schengen area,  foreigners must have a visa.

As of 2007, the Schengen area grows  and includes Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,

Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia,  the Czech Republic, Hungary and Malta.

Three non-EU countries also join them,  Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus  will complete the picture in 2012,

provided they can control  their external borders.

So, the majority of EU Member States will  be part of the Schengen area, but not all.

There are some who prefer to control  their own borders, Ireland and the UK.