40 years of the Schengen Agreement: Introduction
Introduction
About this Library Guide
This Library Guide has been compiled to support the work of the European Commission. It may also be of interest to students, researchers and the wider public.
The Library Guide presents a curated selection of relevant sources on the topic: EU websites, EU publications, peer-reviewed research journals and articles, books and much more.
Use the Find-eR search box on the left to discover information sources on other topics that matter to you.
Access to some sources may be restricted to Commission staff or to users at subscribing institutions.
History of Schengen
The Schengen project started 40 years ago in 1985 on board of a vessel on the River Mosselle, a territory shared by Luxembourg, Germany and France and highly symbolic for European cooperation.
At the basis of this bold project is the Schengen Agreement (signed on 14 June 1985), which was signed by five European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
This agreement marked a defining moment in European history: establishing the basis for enhanced mutual trust, by setting the stage for the abolition of internal border controls between participating nations and simultaneously strengthening the protection of the common external borders. ...
Over time, Schengen expanded to include more countries, becoming an essential component of European unity. The Schengen Convention in 1990, provided the legal and operational mechanisms necessary for its effective implementation. The legal framework included provisions for police and judicial cooperation, information-sharing between countries, and standardised visa policies.
In 1997, the Treaty of Amsterdam further incorporated the Schengen rules into EU law, making it a central part of EU policies on border control and movement.
The Schengen area without internal frontiers now includes 29 Schengen States: 25 EU Member States and 4 non-EU countries: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Cyprus is also participating in Schengen, although the internal border control is not yet lifted. Given the benefits of Schengen cooperation, Ireland has requested to participate in some Schengen areas, including the Schengen Information System as well as judicial and police cooperation.
Source: History of Schengen [webpage]. European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, 20 March 2025 (accessed 24 April 2025)