If you’ve always wondered why the UK hasn’t joined the Schengen Area yet, this article is for you! It provides an overview of the history and the current state of Schengen, discusses why the UK opted out and gives some information on how to view countries in the Schengen Area.
What is Schengen?
Schengen is a border-free area that includes 26 European countries. It was founded in 1995 and has since eliminated passport approved control at most of its borders. The aim of the Schengen Agreement is to make travel easier and more secure for people within the zone.
Countries that have signed on to the agreement are Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
However, the UK has not yet implemented all of the rules set out by Schengen. For example, the UK does not allow citizens to travel freely between countries without first being registered with their local police force.
How did Schengen start?
Schengen is a treaty signed by France and seven other European countries in 1985. The treaty sought to abolish checks at borders between signatories, which would allow for more fluid movement of people and goods.
It came into effect in 1995. However, the UK has not been a part of the Schengen area since 2007. Why?
There are several reasons why the UK has not joined Schengen, but mainly it comes down to security concerns. The UK has long been sceptical of Schengen, partly because it does not trust other European countries to co-operate on security matters. Additionally, the UK is not geographically situated near any of the other signatories, so it would have required a significant investment to join the scheme.
Why is UK not in Schengen?
In late April, the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for the abolition of the Schengen Agreement, which allows travel without a passport free travel between most European Union countries. The UK voted against the motion, citing concerns about security.
The Schengen Agreement was signed in 1995 and has since allowed for the free movement of people within the EU. However, several countries have expressed dissatisfaction with its lack of security measures. In March 2016, France announced that it would be withdrawing from Schengen due to concerns about the growing number of terrorist attacks.
Brexit may have played a role in the vote to abolish Schengen. The agreement is unpopular among many Leave supporters in the UK because it restricts British sovereignty. After Brexit was announced, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said that he hoped the UK would not be bound by “a bunch of nonsense” like Schengen.
Why do other countries operate under the Schengen Agreement?
The Schengen Agreement is an agreement between the European Union (EU) and six other countries that allow for passport-free travel within the area. The Agreement was signed in 1985 and came into effect in 1995. The EU had hoped to join Schengen as a full member but was blocked by the Republic of Ireland.
One of the main reasons why the UK is not a part of Schengen is because of the Ireland border. The UK and Ireland are not part of the same Schengen Area and as such, there would be a need for customs and immigration checks at each border. This would add an extra layer of bureaucracy to what is already a complex process for travelling within the EU.
Another reason is that the UK has its own immigration system which operates on a points-based system. This means that people who want to live or work in the UK must first obtain a visa, which can be difficult if you don’t have someone to help guide you through the process.
Conclusion
There has been much debate recently as to why the United Kingdom has decided not to join the Schengen Area – many people have their own opinions on the matter. However, what is undeniable is that this decision will have a big impact on both tourism and trade within the EU. As such, it’s important that everyone understands the reasons behind it so that they can make an informed decision about whether or not they support it.