1.3 Opening of frontiers

The Schengen area and cooperation

The Schengen area and cooperation are founded on the Schengen Agreement of 1985. The Schengen area represents a territory where the free movement of persons is guaranteed. The signatory states to the agreement have abolished all internal borders in lieu of a single external border. Here common rules and procedures are applied with regard to visas for short stays, asylum requests and border controls. Simultaneously, to guarantee security within the Schengen area, cooperation and coordination between police services and judicial authorities have been stepped up. Schengen cooperation has been incorporated into the European Union (EU) legal framework by the Treaty of Amsterdam of 1997. However, all countries cooperating in Schengen are not parties to the Schengen area. This is either because they do not wish to eliminate border controls or because they do not yet fulfil the required conditions for the application of the Schengen acquis.

 

• http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/EN/about-cedefop/networks/skillsnet/index.aspx – European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
• http://studyvisits.cedefop.europa.eu/ – Learn more about education and training policies and practice across Europe and establish new contacts
• http://ec.europa.eu/youthonthemove/index_en.htm – Youth on the move: Move in Europe

 

 

 

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