The free movement of persons is a fundamental right guaranteed by the EU to its citizens. It entitles every EU citizen to travel, work and live in any EU country without special formalities.

Schengen cooperation enhances this freedom by enabling citizens to cross internal borders without being subjected to border checks. The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 400 million EU citizens, as well as to many non-EU nationals, businessmen, tourists or other persons legally present on the EU territory.

Future of Schengen - 8th parliamentary term

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)

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

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

EP Plenary session - Draft Council Decision on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Croatia

EP Plenary session - Continued internal border controls in the Schengen area in light of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union

EP Plenary session - The accession of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia to the Schengen area

Plenary session - Strengthening the competitiveness of the Internal Market by developing the EU customs union and its governance

EP Plenary session - Annual Report on the functioning of the Schengen area - Report: Carlos Coelho (A8-0160/2018)

Plenary session Week 50 2017 in Strasbourg - Enlargement and strengthening of the Schengen area : Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia

Plenary session week  46 2017 - Joint debate - Establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data of third country nationals '

Plenary session week 19 2016 in Strasbourg - Restoring a fully functioning Schengen system

AVRAMOPOULOS, Dimitris (EC) - Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship

Debate on Refugee emergency, external borders control and future of  Schengen.

Make-shift shelter. New jungle next to migrant reception centre Jules Ferry.

Border between Croatia and Hungary

A hand of an immigrant at the detention center of Filakio a village near Orestiada,some 900km north from Athens, on 17 October, 2012.The centre is the first stop for many undocumented arrivals arrested as they cross from Turkey into Greece.

Press conference in Strasbourg on the Schengen space enlargement

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) votes on its position on the reform of the Schengen Borders Code (Union Code), which include new rules governing the movement of persons across borders. MEPs want to ensure a coherent EU response in cases of large-scale public cross-border health emergencies, allowing temporary restrictions on entering the Schengen area, but exempting from them EU citizens, long-term residents and asylum-seekers. As an alternative to border controls, the new rules would promote police cooperation in border regions. MEPs also argue that the provisions on the instrumentalisation of migrants should be covered by a separate proposal. Extracts from the vote and statement by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D, FR), Rapporteur.

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

MEPs debate with the Commission and the Concil The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession for Romania and Bulgaria. 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: closing statements by Vladimir BALAŠ, Czech Minister of Education, Youth and Sport and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

MEPs debate with the Commission and the Concil The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession for Romania and Bulgaria.

The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession: MEPs debate

MEPs debate with the Commission and the Concil The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession for Romania and Bulgaria. Opening statements by Vladimir BALAŠ, Czech Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, for the Council and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

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. Closing statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life and by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT).

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

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

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

Opening statements by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), Rapporteur and by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life on the draft Council Decision on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Croatia.

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

MEPs review the rules about temporary border controls within the Schengen free-movement area, and adopt a resolution on Bulgaria and Romania’s membership. 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: closing statements by Ivan BARTOŠ, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

MEPs review the rules about temporary border controls within the Schengen free-movement area, and adopt a resolution on Bulgaria and Romania’s membership.

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

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 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

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

Parliament hold urgent debates on the following human rights, democracy and rule of law topics and votes on three related resolutions. Closing statements by Sara SKYTTEDAL (EPP, SE), rapporteur, and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

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

Parliament hold urgent debates on the following human rights, democracy and rule of law topics and votes on three related resolutions.

The Schengen evaluation mechanism: MEPs debate

Parliament hold urgent debates on the following human rights, democracy and rule of law topics and votes on three related resolutions. Opening statements by Sara SKYTTEDAL (EPP, SE), rapporteur, and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality.

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