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Schengen: Controversial EU free movement deal explained Schengen: Controversial EU free movement deal explained
(21 days later)
The Schengen Agreement abolished the EU's internal borders, enabling passport-free movement across most of the bloc. The Schengen Agreement abolished many of the EU's internal borders, enabling passport-free movement across most of the bloc.
But the 13 November attacks by Islamic State (IS) jihadists in Paris, which killed 130 people, prompted an urgent rethink. It take its name from the town of Schengen in Luxembourg, where the agreement was signed in 1985. It took effect in 1995.
There was alarm that killers had so easily slipped into Paris from Belgium, and that some had entered the EU with crowds of migrants via Greece. Which countries are part of the agreement?
And in 2015 the influx of more than a million migrants - many of them Syrian refugees - greatly increased the pressure on Schengen. The first member states were Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
One after another, EU states reimposed temporary border controls. Now there are 26 Schengen countries - 22 EU members and four non-EU. Those four are Iceland and Norway (since 2001), Switzerland (since 2008) and Liechtenstein (since 2011).
In December the European Commission proposed a major amendment to Schengen, expected to become law soon.
Most non-EU travellers have their details checked against police databases at the EU's external borders. The main change is that the rule will apply to EU citizens as well, who until now had been exempt.
Non-EU nationals who have a Schengen visa generally do not have ID checks once they are travelling inside the zone. But since the Paris atrocity those checks have become more common.
Which countries have removed internal borders?
Schengen is a town in Luxembourg where the agreement was signed in 1985. It took effect in 1995, the first members being: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
Now there are 26 Schengen countries - 22 EU members and four non-EU. Those four are: Iceland and Norway (since 2001), Switzerland (since 2008) and Liechtenstein (since 2011).
After the initial seven came Italy and Austria in 1997, Greece in 2000, and the Nordic countries in 2001.After the initial seven came Italy and Austria in 1997, Greece in 2000, and the Nordic countries in 2001.
Nine more EU countries joined in 2007, after the EU's eastward enlargement in 2004. They are: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.Nine more EU countries joined in 2007, after the EU's eastward enlargement in 2004. They are: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Only six of the 28 EU member states are outside the Schengen zone - Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK.Only six of the 28 EU member states are outside the Schengen zone - Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK.
Are other countries going to remove border checks too?Are other countries going to remove border checks too?
Andorra and San Marino are not part of Schengen, but they no longer have checks at their borders.Andorra and San Marino are not part of Schengen, but they no longer have checks at their borders.
There is no date yet for Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, or for Bulgaria and Romania (joined in 2007) or Croatia (joined in 2013).There is no date yet for Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, or for Bulgaria and Romania (joined in 2007) or Croatia (joined in 2013).
Which EU countries are not in Schengen?Which EU countries are not in Schengen?
The UK and Republic of Ireland have opted out. The UK wants to maintain its own borders, and Dublin prefers to preserve its free movement arrangement with the UK - called the Common Travel Area - rather than join Schengen.The UK and Republic of Ireland have opted out. The UK wants to maintain its own borders, and Dublin prefers to preserve its free movement arrangement with the UK - called the Common Travel Area - rather than join Schengen.
The UK and Ireland began taking part in some aspects of the Schengen agreement, such as the Schengen Information System (SIS), from 2000 and 2002 respectively.The UK and Ireland began taking part in some aspects of the Schengen agreement, such as the Schengen Information System (SIS), from 2000 and 2002 respectively.
The SIS enables police forces across Europe to share data on law enforcement. It includes data on stolen cars, court proceedings and missing persons.The SIS enables police forces across Europe to share data on law enforcement. It includes data on stolen cars, court proceedings and missing persons.
Why is the migrant crisis undermining Schengen? How have the Paris attacks and the migrant crisis affected Schengen?
Germany reimposed controls on its border with Austria, after a record number of migrants travelled to southern Germany from Hungary, via Austria. Schengen is often criticised by nationalists and Eurosceptics who say it is an open door for migrants and criminals.
The influx of migrants also pushed Austria to restrict road and rail traffic on its border with Hungary. The 13 November Paris attacks, which killed 130 people, prompted an urgent rethink of the Schengen agreement.
The migrants entered the EU illegally, without Schengen visas. Hungary became a hotspot as a gateway to the Schengen zone, so it built a fence on its border with Serbia. There was alarm that killers had so easily slipped into Paris from Belgium, and that some had entered the EU with crowds of migrants via Greece.
The fence was much-criticised in the EU - but Serbia is outside Schengen, so Hungary argued that it was quite justified. In 2015, the influx of more than a million migrants - many of them Syrian refugees - also greatly increased the pressure on politicians, and one after another, EU states re-imposed temporary border controls.
Hungary later erected fences on its borders with EU members Slovenia (in Schengen) and Croatia (not in Schengen). In December, the European Commission proposed a major amendment to Schengen, expected to become law soon. Most non-EU travellers have their details checked against police databases at the EU's external borders. The main change is that the rule will apply to EU citizens as well, who until now had been exempt.
On 4 January the focus switched to Schengen members Denmark and Sweden. Non-EU nationals who have a Schengen visa generally do not have ID checks once they are travelling inside the zone, but since the Paris atrocity those checks have become more common.
Denmark stepped up border controls with Germany, hours after Sweden extended identity checks on all travellers to reduce the influx of migrants. When can countries re-impose border controls?
Sweden is now refusing entry to anyone who has no photo identification. It has slowed traffic across the Oresund road-rail bridge.
More than 160,000 people applied for asylum in Sweden last year - the highest per-capita figure in the EU.
In a December speech, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker insisted that free movement under Schengen would be safeguarded and "Schengen is here to stay".
Schengen is often criticised by nationalists and Eurosceptics, such as the French National Front (FN), Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) and UK Independence Party. They say it is an open door for migrants and criminals.
When can countries reimpose border controls?
Under the Schengen rules, signatories may reinstate internal border controls for 10 days, if this has to be done immediately for "public policy or national security" reasons.Under the Schengen rules, signatories may reinstate internal border controls for 10 days, if this has to be done immediately for "public policy or national security" reasons.
If the problem continues, the controls can be maintained for "renewable periods" of up to 20 days and for a maximum of two months.If the problem continues, the controls can be maintained for "renewable periods" of up to 20 days and for a maximum of two months.
The period is longer in cases where the threat is considered "foreseeable". The controls can be maintained for renewable periods of up to 30 days, and for a maximum of six months.The period is longer in cases where the threat is considered "foreseeable". The controls can be maintained for renewable periods of up to 30 days, and for a maximum of six months.
But an extension of two years maximum is allowed under Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code, in "exceptional circumstances". An extension of two years maximum is allowed under Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code, in "exceptional circumstances".
In the Schengen zone currently six states have border controls in place: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden. In the Schengen zone, currently six states have border controls in place: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden.
Hungary's controls affect two non-Schengen states: Croatia and Serbia. Last October it also imposed temporary controls on the border with Schengen member Slovenia. Hungary's controls affect its borders with two non-Schengen states: Croatia and Serbia. Last October it also imposed temporary controls on the border with Schengen member Slovenia.
In 2005 France reimposed border controls after the bomb attacks by Islamist militants in London. In 2005 France re-imposed border controls after the bomb attacks by Islamist militants in London. Austria, Portugal and Germany re-imposed border controls for some major sporting events, such as the Fifa World Cup.
Austria, Portugal and Germany reimposed border controls for some major sporting events, such as the Fifa World Cup.
What else does Schengen involve?What else does Schengen involve?
The main feature is the creation of a single external border, and a single set of rules for policing the border. The main feature is the creation of a single external border, and a single set of rules for policing the border, but there are other measures including:
The biggest pressure point now is the Aegean Sea, between Greece and Turkey, as thousands of migrants - many of them Syrian refugees - arrive daily from Turkey. The EU plans to deploy a new European Border and Coast Guard force there this summer.
Austria is among several Schengen states that have sharply criticised Greece for failing to register many migrants. But Greece has told its EU partners that they must share the burden - it cannot become Europe's refugee camp.
Among the other measures are:
How are non-EU citizens affected?How are non-EU citizens affected?
A Schengen visa is necessary to travel to a Schengen country or within the area. It is a short-stay visa valid for 90 days. It also allows international transit at airports in Schengen countries. Nationals from some countries need to obtain a Schengen visa in order to enter one of its member countries or travel within the area. It is a short-stay visa valid for 90 days. It also allows international transit at airports in Schengen countries.
A short-stay visa costs €60 (£46; $66). A short-stay visa costs €60 (£46; $66), but just €35 for Russians, Ukrainians and citizens of some other countries, under visa facilitation agreements.
But the visa costs €35 for Russians, Ukrainians and citizens of some other countries, under visa facilitation agreements.
The EU has no visa requirement for citizens of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia who have biometric passports. These Balkan nations all hope to join the EU. Kosovo is excluded from the arrangement.
Since the scrapping of visas for travellers from the Western Balkans there has been a surge in asylum applications from that region. Many asylum seekers are Roma (Gypsies), who are often desperately poor, marginalised and victims of discrimination.
Most of the asylum claims are submitted in Germany, which already has well-established diaspora communities from the Balkans.
An EU report says "asylum abuse has continued to afflict the visa-free scheme" and the situation "remains untenable".
Now the EU aims to establish a common list of "safe countries of origin", including the Western Balkans and Turkey. It would help speed up the processing of asylum claims, and give a legal basis for sending many Balkan applicants home. Fewer than 10% of applicants from the region get asylum in the EU.