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 reform package (T)

9th parliamentary term

Schengen area (2019-2021)

Covid-19: EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schengen and the single market: Opening statements of the Council and Commission

Covid-19: EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schengen and the single market: First round of political group leaders

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

Covid-19: EU coordination of health assessments and risk classification and the consequences on Schengen and the single market: Closing statements

Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak: extracts from the debate

Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak: MEPs debate

Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak: Opening statements by Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), rapporteur, Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency and Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak: Closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown: opening of Belgian borders

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

Memoclip: Before and after the Schengen agreement

Biometric passport

Belgo-Luxembourg Border

Belgian Custom patrol controling on the road around the border between Germany and Belgium

Border crossing between Gaillard in France and Geneve in Switzerland on 15 october 2011.

Zaventem Airport

Border control at the Brussels Midi train station for passengers leaving the Schengen zone on the Eurostar train to the UK.

Zaventem Airport - Border control

Schengen agreement

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