The Schengen Agreement
The name “Schengen” originates from a small town in Luxembourg where, in March 1995, seven European Union countries signed a treaty to end internal border checkpoints and controls. Since March 1995 more countries have signed the Treaty and currently there are 15 Schengen Countries. These are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
The idea behind the Schengen Agreement
is to create a zone of easy cross border travel between member countries with
the removal of internal border controls. Citizens of countries that have implemented
the Schengen agreement may cross the borders of other Schengen countries without
any border checks.
This means that, because the UK is not a signatory to the Schengen agreement, UK citizens can be subject to checks on entering a Schengen country.
Basic rules for cruising in the near continent.
