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

MEPs call for a ban on ‘golden passports’ and EU rules for ‘golden visas’. The European Parliament's&nbsp;proposal sets out an array of measures to address problems linked to ‘citizenship and residence by investment schemes’.

Golden passports’ are objectionable ethically, legally and economically and pose several serious security risks.

‘Golden visas’ need to be regulated and should be levied at EU level. Third-countries with visa-free access to the EU should also end their ‘golden passports’ schemes.

At least 130,000 persons have taken advantage of CBI and RBI schemes in the EU between 2011 and 2019, which have generated over €21.8 billion in revenue for the countries concerned. Three member states have CBI schemes: Bulgaria (where the government has tabled a draft law to end the scheme), Cyprus (currently only processing applications submitted prior to November 2020) and Malta. Twelve member states have RBI schemes, all with diverging amounts and options of investment, as well as standards for checks and procedures.

European citizenship and residence

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).&nbsp;

Free movement&nbsp;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.

Today, the Schengen Area encompasses most EU countries, except for Bulgaria, Croatia,&nbsp;Cyprus, Ireland and Romania. However, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are currently in the process of joining the Schengen Area and already applying the Schengen acquis to a large extent. Additionally, also the non-EU States Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have joined the Schengen Area.

Since the start of the pandemics and in order to slow down the spread of the virus some travel restrictions have been necessary in the EU.

Schengen area (2019-2021)

The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee votes on an update to EU rules on the safety of toys to better protect children and tackle the new challenges brought about by e-commerce and new technologies such as AI. The proposed regulation introduces new bans on the most harmful chemicals such as endocrine disruptors and a digital product passport to facilitate safety checks

IMCO vote on Toy safety

EP plenary session - Serious security threats through the sale of EU passports and visas to criminals

Zaventem Airport - Passport check

LIBE Committee - Exchange of views with representatives of the Council and the Commission about the decision once again to prolong internal border checks in place in five countries in the Schengen passport-free area for another three months, until mid-May

Biometric passport

EE2014 European election night  -  Close up on leaflet on European Elections in front of the EP Headquarters in Brussels

Infography with a French Passport

Thierry B. JEAN-PIERRE, Philippe MORILLON, Daniel DUCARME, Mario SOARES, Alain MADELIN, Daniel COHN BENDIT

Press conference on the launch of the Passport for Freedom.

Marie Anne ISLER BEGUIN, Mohamed Lemine Shbih Ould CHEIKH MELAININE

Press conference with President of the Mauritanian People Front on Chbib Malainine a passport for freedom recovered in Mauritania

Press Conference on the Award of a Passport for Freedom fot the release of prisoners in the camps of Tindouf

Press conference on the award of a Passport for Freedom to a person from Mauritania

Nicole FONTAINE EP President, Shukria Haidar,  Catherine LALUMIERE , Humaira Qaderi

Passport for freedom to Mrs HAIDAR, Afghan refugee

Helene FLAUTRE, Gianfranco DELL'ALBA, Thierry B. JEAN-PIERRE, Nadia MARZOUKI

Press conferenvce of the Greens/EFA group on the award of the passport for freedom to Moncef MARZOUKI

Presentation of  Passport to freedom

Portrait of MEP Bryan CASSIDY with his passport and the flag of the United Kingdom in Strasbourg

The Twelves flags of Europe with Belgium passport

VodDebate: Draft Motion for a Resolution on illegal logging in the EU 2022/2523(RSP) Vote in Plenary:tbc Final Vote

VodDebate: Petition 0223/2022 by Olena Vedenina (Ukrainian) on the creation of a humanitarian corridor for European citizens in Ukraine (In the presence of the petitioner by remote connection) Petition 0239/2022 by Marisa Filipe (Portuguese) on the reintroduction of the Nansen passport, an EU-wide ID card for refugees in Europe (In the presence of the petitioner by remote connection)

VodDebate: Petition 0303/2022 by J.L.S. (German) on behalf of the organisation ‘Children's Health Support e.V.’ on humanitarian aid in Ukraine (Possibly in the presence of the petitioner by remote connection) Petition 0309/2022 by J.L.S. (German) on behalf of the organisation ‘Children's Health Support e.V.’ on the creation of a humanitarian no-fly zone in Ukraine (Possibly in the presence of the petitioner by remote connection) Petition 0314/2022by J.L.S. (German) on behalf of the organisation ‘Children's Health Support e.V.’ on hospital protection in Ukraine (Possibly in the presence of the petitioner by remote connection)

Committee on Petitions

PETI

Announcement of voting results: see Minutes

Request for waiver of immunity: see Minutes

First voting session

Gender Equality in EU’s foreign and security policy (debate)

Serious security threats through the sale of EU passports and visas to criminals

State of the Energy Union (debate)

Aligning the Energy Charta Treaty with the European Green Deal (debate)

Sakharov Prize 2020 (announcement of the winner)

Aligning the Energy Charta Treaty with the European Green Deal  (continuation of debate)

Resumption of the sitting

Second voting session

Third voting session

Agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes

Closure of the sitting 

Plenary Session

Biometric passports

Security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents (debate)

The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) vote on an update to EU rules on the safety of toys to better protect children and tackle the new challenges brought about by e-commerce and new technologies such as AI. The proposed regulation introduces new bans on the most harmful chemicals such as endocrine disruptors and a digital product passport to facilitate safety checks. Marion WALSMANN (EPP, DE), rapporteur speaks after this vote.

Revised directive on the safety of toys: extracts from the vote and statement by Marion WALSMANN (EPP, DE), rapporteur

The European Commission’s proposal for a regulation establishing a general framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, repeals rules currently in force which concentrate on energy-related products only. The regulation would lay down rules that would apply to all products on the internal market, with the aim of making them more durable, reusable, reparable, upgradable, recyclable and generally less harmful to the environment. The regulation would include rules on a digital product passport, green public procurement and banning the destruction of unsold goods. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Ecodesign for sustainable products

In the debate with the Commission and Council, MEPs call for the Schengen passport-free travel area to be completed swiftly by extending it to all EU member states who wish to participate. Closing statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life and by Mikuláš BEK, Czech Minister for European Affairs.

The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area: closing statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life and by Mikuláš BEK, Czech Minister for European Affairs

In the debate with the Commission and Council, MEPs call for the Schengen passport-free travel area to be completed swiftly by extending it to all EU member states who wish to participate.

The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area: MEPs debate (part 2)

The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area: MEPs debate (part 1)

In the debate with the Commission and Council, MEPs call for the Schengen passport-free travel area to be completed swiftly by extending it to all EU member states who wish to participate. One round Political group leaders.

The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area: One round Political group leaders

In the debate with the Commission and Council, MEPs call for the Schengen passport-free travel area to be completed swiftly by extending it to all EU member states who wish to participate. Opening statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life and by Mikuláš BEK, Czech Minister for European Affairs.

The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area: opening statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life and by Mikuláš BEK, Czech Minister for European Affairs

In the debate with the Commission and Council, MEPs call for the Schengen passport-free travel area to be completed swiftly by extending it to Bulgaria and Romania. Some MEPs call on the Council and the Commission to accelerate and finalise the procedure, while others remind that accessing Schengen is also a responsability and that fundamental rights should be ensured. Extracts from the debate.

The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area: extracts from the debate

Parliament debated how to handle the growing number of people fleeing Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. MEPs discussed the implications on EU security, defence and its role in the world. Members also called for an end to so-called golden passports and for better protection against foreign interference in European democracies.

Plenary highlights: Ukraine, women’s day and foreign interference

MEPs will debate and vote on ‘citizenship by investment’ schemes, under which third country nationals can get so-called ‘golden passports’. These ones are objectionable ethically, legally, and economically. They also pose serious security risks while undermining the essence of EU citizenship, and should be banned. According to the draft text, third countries with visa-free access to the EU should also end their ‘golden passports’ schemes. Meanwhile, on 25 February in light of Putin’s attack on Ukraine, the leaders of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Canada, and the US committed to taking measures to limit the access of wealthy Russians (with ties to the government) to ‘golden passports’. Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Sophia IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteur.

Citizenship and residence by investment schemes: closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Sophia IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteur

MEPs will debate and vote on ‘citizenship by investment’ schemes, under which third country nationals can get so-called ‘golden passports’. These ones are objectionable ethically, legally, and economically. They also pose serious security risks while undermining the essence of EU citizenship, and should be banned. According to the draft text, third countries with visa-free access to the EU should also end their ‘golden passports’ schemes. Meanwhile, on 25 February in light of Putin’s attack on Ukraine, the leaders of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Canada, and the US committed to taking measures to limit the access of wealthy Russians (with ties to the government) to ‘golden passports’.

Citizenship and residence by investment schemes: MEPs debate

The draft legislative initiative on which MEPs will vote says ‘citizenship by investment’ schemes, under which third country nationals can get so-called ‘golden passports’, are objectionable ethically, legally, and economically. They also pose serious security risks while undermining the essence of EU citizenship, and should be banned. According to the draft text, third countries with visa-free access to the EU should also end their ‘golden passports’ schemes. Meanwhile, on 25 February in light of Putin’s attack on Ukraine, the leaders of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Canada, and the US committed to taking measures to limit the access of wealthy Russians (with ties to the government) to ‘golden passports’. Opening statements Sophie IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteur, Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

Citizenship and residence by investment schemes: opening statements by Sophie IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteur, Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

MEPs debate and vote on ‘citizenship by investment’ schemes, under which third country nationals can get so-called ‘golden passports’. These ones are objectionable ethically, legally, and economically. They also pose serious security risks while undermining the essence of EU citizenship, and should be banned. According to the draft text, third countries with visa-free access to the EU should also end their ‘golden passports’ schemes. Meanwhile, on 25 February in light of Putin’s attack on Ukraine, the leaders of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Canada, and the US committed to taking measures to limit the access of wealthy Russians (with ties to the government) to ‘golden passports’.

Citizenship and residence by investment schemes: extracts from the debate, extracts from the press conference and results of the vote

During the plenary session (19-23 October 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs quiz the Commissioner Didier REYNDERS about possible measures to stop third-country criminals from buying EU citizenship documents and visas to gain access to EU territory.

Serious security threats through the sale of EU passports and visas to criminals: extracts from the debate

The touring visa foresees a one year visa for people working in the EU, such as professional rugby players playing for a rugby club in Brussels. View of a passport. Views of musicians preparing for a concert in the main hall 'Henry Le Boeuf' of the BOZAR in Brussels.

Infoclip: Touring visa

This infoclip illustrates a family organising dual citizenship for its members. Two teenagers are applying for British citizenship and the mother recently received her Swedish citizenship next to her British nationality.

Infoclip: Brexit - EU-UK citizenship

Your best friends can go on holiday with you. The European Parliament wants to make it easy for your pets to travel. Pets need European pet passports, microchips for identification and anti-rabies vaccinations to travel within the EU. Remind your dog to pack its bone too!

Travelling with your pet in Europe

Members of Parliament are to vote on a revision of Europass, a scheme that makes it easier for people’s professional skills to be understood across the EU. They want to update the digital version and make the tool more accessible.

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