Are you one of the 2 million Europeans living in one country and working in another? Thanks to the Schengen agreement, you can avoid ID controls and other formalities. Listen to find out what other EU rules are in place for commuters like you

This is what the EU does for cross-border commuters

France is a semi-presidential republic with a head of government - the prime minister - appointed by the president who is the directly elected head of state.

France has been a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and part of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995

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EU  - France

In 2004 Slovakia joined the European Union as a Member State. It is a member of&nbsp;the Schengen area&nbsp;since 21 December 2007.&nbsp;It is a member of the&nbsp;Eurozone, when the Euro was introduced to replace the Slovak Crown as the national currency.

There are more than 5.4 million people in Slovakia. The country has 14 Members of European Parliament (MEPs). Slovakia has presided the EU between July and December 2016. Slovakia is a parliamentary democratic republic with a head of government - the Prime Minister - who holds the most executive power and a head of state - the President - who is the formal head of the executive, but with&nbsp;limited powers. The country is subdivided into 8 regions, each named after its principal city.&nbsp;

The country was in the centre of attention nad underwent huge political turbulences in&nbsp;2018 when the investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée were murdered.&nbsp;

EU - Slovakia

Belgium is a founding member of the European Union

Belgium is member of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995 and of the Eurozone since 1 January 1999.

The country's capital, Brussels, is together with Luxembourg City and Strasbourg, one of the three official seats of the European institutions. Belgium is a constitutional monarchy in which the King is head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of the government.

EU - Belgium

Malta joined the European Union 1st May 2004 and it has been a member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2007.

Malta is a single-chamber parliamentary republic with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the president - whose role is largely ceremonial. The country is divided into 5 regions. Each has its own regional committee, which serves as the intermediary between local and national government.

There are 6 members of the European Parliament from Malta.

EU - Malta

Poland is a member of the EU since 1st of May 2004 and member of the Schengen area since 21st December 2007.

Poland is a parliamentary republic with a Head of government - the Prime Minister - and a Head of state - the President. The government structure is centred on the council of Ministers. The country is divided into 16 provinces, largely based on the country’s historic regions. Administrative authority at provincial level is shared between a government-appointed Governor, an elected regional Assembly and an executive elected by the regional Assembly.

There are 51 members of the European Parliament from Poland.

EU - Poland

Latvia joined the European Union on 1 May&nbsp;2004 and has been a member of the Schengen area since 21 December 2007. It became a member of the Euro area on 1 January 2014.

Latvia is a parliamentary republic with a head of government - the Prime Minister - who chooses the council of ministers and a head of state - the President - who has a largely ceremonial role and nominates the Prime Minister.

The government is subject to Parliament's approval throughout each term.

The country is subdivided into 110 one-level municipalities and 9 cities. These each have their own city councils and municipal administrations.

There are 8 Members of the European Parliament from Latvia.

EU - Latvia

Hungary officially joined the EU on 1 March 2004 and the Schengen Area in December 2007.

The Hungarian EU accession negotiations started on 31 March 1998. Hungary had successfully concluded negotiations on its accession at the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002. Hungary has 22 MEPs, 12 votes in the Council and has chaired the Council of the European Union from January to June 2011.

EU - Hungary

Greece entered the European Economic Community on 1 January 1981.

Greece is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 2001 and of the Schengen area since 1 January 2000. Greece is a parliamentary republic with a head of government&nbsp; who has the most political power, and the head of state whose duties are largely ceremonial.

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EU - Greece - 8th parliamentary term

Italy is a parliamentary republic with a head of government - the prime minister - appointed by the president and a head of state - the president. The Parliament is composed of 2 houses: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic.

Italy is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and of the Schengen area since 26 October 1997. There are 75&nbsp;members of the European Parliament from Italy.

EU - Italy

Austria has been an EU Member since 1st January 1995. Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a head of government - the chancellor - and a head of state - the president.

Austria ihas also been a member of the Euro area since 1 January 1999 and a member of Schengen since December 1997.

There are 19 members of the European Parliament from Austria. The country held the EU Presidency in 1998, 2006 and 2018.

Austria consists of 9 states (Bundesländer). Both regional and federal governments exercise executive power. The federal Parliament consists of 2 chambers: the Lower House (Nationalrat) - directly elected - and the Upper House (Bundesrat) - elected by regional parliaments.

EU - Austria

Until the UK withdraws from the EU, all rights and obligations deriving from EU membership continue to apply in the UK.

 
The United Kingdom (UK) consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK is not a member of the Schengen Area. There are 73 members of the European Parliament from the UK.

EU - United Kingdom

The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union.
The Netherlands is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995.

The Netherlands is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the monarch. There are 26 members of the European Parliament from the Netherlands.

EU - Netherlands

The EU's passport-free travel space, known as the Schengen area, is one of the most tangible achievements of European integration. The Schengen area is one of the pillars of the European project.

The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 400 million EU citizens, along with non-EU nationals living in the EU or visiting the EU as tourists, exchange students or for business purposes (anyone legally present in the EU).

Free movement of persons enables every EU citizen to travel, work and live in an EU country without special formalities. Schengen underpins this freedom by enabling citizens to move around the Schengen Area without being subject to border checks.

Currently, all EU member states except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are part of the Schengen area. MEPs have called for Bulgaria and Romania to be fully admitted into Schengen on multiple occasions,

Additionally, also the non-EU States Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have joined the Schengen Area.

During&nbsp;the pandemics and in order to slow down the spread of the virus some temporary travel restrictions were&nbsp;necessary to establish in the EU.

Schengen area

Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 1999 and of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995.

Luxembourg City, together with Brussels and Strasbourg, is one of the three official seats of the European institutions. There are 6 members of the European Parliament from Luxembourg.

EU - Luxembourg

The Republic of Estonia obtained it's independence in 1991 and entered the EU on the 1st May 2004

After the signature of a European agreement and the filing of an application in 1995, the accession negotiations began in March 1998. Reforms have been undertaken during all the accession process to improve the national economic performance. The entry of Estonia in the EU was approved by referendum by a large majority on 14th September 2003.

Estonia has 6 MEPs, is represented by 4 voices to the Council and it adopted the Euro on the 1st January 2011. On 15 November 2007, the application of the Schengen acquis to Estonia is approved in plenary session.

EU - Estonia (8th parliamentary term)

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 - Oral question - Calling on the Council to take all necessary steps to reach an agreement on the European cross-border mechanism file and open negotiations with Parliament

EP Plenary session - Council and Commissions statements - 30 years of Copenhagen criteria - giving further impetus to EU enlargement policy

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Schengen area

LIBE- Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders

LIBE vote -  Amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders

EP Plenary session - Short presentation - Accession to the Schengen area

EP Plenary session - The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession

EP Plenary session - Draft Council Decision on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Croatia

EP Plenary session - Continued internal border controls in the Schengen area in light of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union

EP Plenary session - The accession of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia to the Schengen area

EP Plenary session - The Schengen evaluation mechanism

EP Plenary session - Annual Report on the functioning of the Schengen area

EP Plenary session - Covid-19 : EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schengen and the single market

EP Plenary session - Oral questions - Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak

Zaventem Airport - Passport check

Plenary session - Joint debate - Interoperability between EU information systems

Plenary session - Strengthening the competitiveness of the Internal Market by developing the EU customs union and its governance

Effectiveness of the EU sanctions on Russia (debate)

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (debate)

Resumption of the sitting

Formal sitting - Address by Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia

Statement by the President

Voting time

General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024 - all sections (debate)

Schengen area: digitalisation of the visa procedure - Schengen area: amending the Visa Sticker Regulation (Joint debate – Schengen area)

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Commission Work Programme 2024 (debate)

Question Time with Commissioners - European measures to prevent and to fight the rise of organised crime

Composition of the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members

Corrigenda (Rule 241)(action taken)

Water scarcity and structural investments in access to water in the EU (debate)

Urgent need for a coordinated European response and legislative framework on intrusive spyware, based on the PEGA inquiry committee recommendations (debate)

Situation of Ukrainian women refugees, including access to SRHR support (debate)

2022 Report on Montenegro (debate)

Explanations of vote

Report: Clara Aguilera (A9-0016/2021) - Fisheries control

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

Opening of the sitting

Composition of political groups

Composition of committees and delegations

Interim report on the proposal for a mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 (debate)

European Media Freedom Act (debate)

The 10-year commemoration since the tragedy in Lampedusa(statement by the President)

Corrupt large-scale sale of Schengen visas (debate)

Medicine shortages and strategic healthcare autonomy in the EU (debate)

Question Time (Commission) - EU-China trade relations

Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia (debate)

Taking stock of Moldova's path to the EU (debate)

Recent developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the northern municipalities in Kosovo (debate)

EU-Switzerland relations (debate)

Uzbekistan (debate)

Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (debate)

The 10th consecutive increase in reference interest rates decided by the ECB and its consequences (debate)

Report: Sabine Verheyen (A9-0264/2023) - European Media Freedom Act

Amendment of the agenda

Nature restoration (debate)

European Chips Act (debate)

Commemorating the 28th anniversary of Srebrenica (statement by the President)

COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and recommendations for the future (debate)

2023 Annual Rule of law report (debate)

Greening transport package (debate)

Question Time (Commission) – EU-Africa Strategy

Relations with the Palestinian Authority (debate)

2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate)

Corrigendum (Rule 241)(action taken)

2022 Report on Albania (debate)

Financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2022 - Control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2022

Accession to the Schengen area (short presentation)

Ecodesign Regulation (debate)

Renewable Energy, Energy Performance of Buildings and Energy Efficiency Directives: amendments (REPowerEU) (debate)

Announcement by the President: see Minutes

Renewable Energy, Energy Performance of Buildings and Energy Efficiency Directives: amendments (REPowerEU) (continuation of debate)

This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob

Implementation of the New European Agenda for Culture and the EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations (debate)

A need for a dedicated budget to turn the Child Guarantee into reality - an urgency in times of energy and food crisis (debate)

Question Time (Commission) - “Protection of strategic infrastructure from China's influence”

Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions (debate) (debate)

The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession

Prospects for the two-State solution for Israel and Palestine

Turkish airstrikes on northern Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (debate)

Annual implementing report on the EU association agreement with Georgia (debate)

ASEAN relations ahead of the EU-ASEAN summit in December 2022 (debate)

Statements by the President

Composition of Parliament

Composition of political groups: see Minutes

Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading (Rule 71)

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79)

Order of business

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20-21 October 2022 (debate)

Outcome of the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (debate)

EU response to the increasing crack-down on protests in Iran (debate)

REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans (debate) (debate)

Communication on ensuring availability and affordability of fertilisers

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (debate)

Digital finance: Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) - Digital Finance: Amending Directive regarding Digital Operational Resilience requirements (debate)

Full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in Croatia (debate)

Esports and video games (debate)

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Keep the bills down: social and economic consequences of the war in Ukraine and the introduction of a windfall tax (debate)

Mental health (debate)

General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023 - all sections (debate)

Commission Work Programme 2023 (debate)

Question Time (Commission) - Protecting critical infrastructure in the EU against attacks and countering hybrid attacks

Growing hate crimes against LGBTIQ people across Europe in light of the recent homophobic murder in Slovakia (debate)

Continued internal border controls in the Schengen area in light of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (C-368/20) (debate)

UN Climate Change Conference 2022 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27) (debate)

Impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine on migration flows to the EU (debate)

Setting up a comprehensive framework for missing children and missing persons at risk (debate)

Recognising the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism (debate)

Russia’s escalation of its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Voting time 

Countering the anti-European and anti-Ukrainian propaganda of Putin’s European cronies (topical debate)

The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area (debate)

Outcome of the Commission’s review of the 15-point action plan on trade and sustainable development (debate)

Humanitarian situation after the devastating floods in Pakistan and the climate crisis (debate)

The situation of human rights in Haiti in particular related to gang violence

The Media freedom crackdown in Myanmar, notably the cases of Htet Htet Khine, Sithu Aung Myint and Nyein Nyein Aye

Membership of committees and delegations

The recent humanitarian and human rights situation in Tigray, Ethiopia, notably that of children

The Dutch childcare benefit scandal, institutional racism and algorithms (debate)

Approval of the minutes of the sitting and agenda of the next sitting

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71) (action taken)

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 24-25 March 2022: including the latest developments of the war against Ukraine and the EU sanctions against Russia and their implementation (debate)

Data Governance Act

Global approach to research and innovation: Europe’s strategy for international cooperation in a changing world

Resumption of the sitting


Cooperation and similarities between the Putin regime and extreme right and separatist movements in Europe

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary (debate)

Violations of right to seek asylum and non-refoulement in the EU Member States (debate)

The Schengen evaluation mechanism (debate)

Human rights situation in North Korea, including the persecution of religious minorities

The situation of the rule of law and human rights in the Republic of Guatemala

Increasing repression in Russia, including the case of Alexey Navalny

Press conference by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission and Ylva JOHANSSON, Commissioner for Home Affairs, on the revision of the Schengen Borders Code

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Slovenian Presidency (debate)

Connecting Europe Facility - Streamlining measures for the realisation of the TEN-T - Railway safety and signalling: Assessing the state of play of the ERTMS deployment (debate)

Composition of committees and delegations 

The creation of guidelines for the application of the general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget (debate)

First voting session

The creation of guidelines for the application of the general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget (continuation of debate)

Situation in Nicaragua (debate)

The repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP (debate)

Foreign interference in democratic processes (debate)

EU global human rights sanctions regime (EU Magnitsky Act) (debate)

Announcement of voting results: see Minutes

Situation in Tigray, Ethiopia (debate)

Second voting session

Situation in Tigray, Ethiopia (continuation of debate)

The 70th anniversary of the Geneva Convention (debate)

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2021-2027 - Integrated Border Management Fund: Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy 2021-2027 (debate)

Annual Report on the functioning of the Schengen area (debate)

Visa Information System (VIS): visa processing - Visa Information System (VIS): conditions for accessing other EU information systems for VIS (debate)

Agenda of the next sitting 

Closure of the sitting 

Preparation of the Special European Council, focusing on the dangerous escalation and the role of Turkey in the Eastern-Mediterranean (debate)

Preparation of the Special European Council, focusing on the dangerous escalation and the role of Turkey in the Eastern-Mediterranean (continuation of debate)

Situation in Belarus - Situation in Lebanon - Situation in Russia, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny (debate)

Covid-19: EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schengen and the single market (debate)

Agenda for next sitting: see Minutes

Plenary Session

Foreign policy consequences of the COVID-19 crisis

Tackling Covid-19 disinformation and the impact on freedom of expression

 Eastern Partnership in the run-up to the June 2020 Summit - Western Balkans, following the 2020 summit (short presentation)

Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak

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EP Plenary session - Oral question - Calling on the Council to take all necessary steps to reach an agreement on the European cross-border mechanism file and open negotiations with Parliament

EP Plenary session - Council and Commissions statements - 30 years of Copenhagen criteria - giving further impetus to EU enlargement policy

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Schengen area

LIBE- Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders

LIBE vote - Amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders

EP Plenary session - Short presentation - Accession to the Schengen area

EP Plenary session - The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession

EP Plenary session - Draft Council Decision on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Croatia

EP Plenary session - Continued internal border controls in the Schengen area in light of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union

EP Plenary session - The accession of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia to the Schengen area

EP Plenary session - The Schengen evaluation mechanism

EP Plenary session - Annual Report on the functioning of the Schengen area

EP Plenary session - Covid-19 : EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schengen and the single market

EP Plenary session - Covid-19 : EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schengen and the single market

EP Plenary session - Oral questions - Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak

Zaventem Airport - Passport check

Plenary session - Joint debate - Interoperability between EU information systems

Plenary session - Strengthening the competitiveness of the Internal Market by developing the EU customs union and its governance