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

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

Functioning of the Schengen area: extracts from the debate (06/07) and statement by Tanja FAJON (S&D,SI), rapporteur

Annual Report on the functioning of the Schengen area: closing statement by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Green corridor at the Dutch-Belgian border

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

Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders: extracts from the vote, statement by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D, FR), Rapporteur

The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession: closing statements by Vladimir BALAŠ, Czech Minister of Education, Youth and Sport and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession: MEPs debate

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

The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession: opening statements by Vladimir BALAŠ , Czech Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, for the Council and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

Draft Council Decision on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Croatia: closing statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission

Draft Council Decision on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Croatia: MEPs debate

Draft Council Decision on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Croatia: opening statements by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), Rapporteur and by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission

Continued internal border controls in the Schengen area, in light of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU: closing statements by Ivan BARTOŠ, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

Continued internal border controls in the Schengen area in light of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU: MEPs debate

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

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)

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

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

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

The Schengen evaluation mechanism: closing statements by Sara SKYTTEDAL (EPP, SE), rapporteur, and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

The Schengen evaluation mechanism: MEPs debate

The Schengen evaluation mechanism: opening statements by Sara SKYTTEDAL (EPP, SE), rapporteur, and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

Annual Report on the functioning of the Schengen area: opening statements by Tanja FAJON (S&D, SI), rapporteur and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

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