Schengen space Information and news about Schengen countries

The European Union's ten new members will join the the borderless Schengen zone in 2007, according to the Justice and Interior ministers from the European Union.

These members must use Schengen standards at customs and border points in order to join the other fifteen members (EU minus UK and Ireland, plus Norway and Iceland). Those who meet the criteria will be able to integrate into Schengen system in 2007. Land borders are scheduled to be opened in December 31, 2007 and sea and air borders checks will be lifted by the latest in March 2008. In mid-2007 the European Commission will evaluate if their borders are meeting the required standards.

Countries that joined the European Union in 2004 won't be able to join the Schengen zone as planned in April 2007.

Supported by Unisys and Microsoft, the Schengen Information System II (SIS II) will be delayed for technical reasons. SIS is a database that stores all travelers' entry and exit data in the Schengen zone.

Read a complete article about this subject on heise online.

On Thursday, April 27th, the European Council of Home and Justice ministers decided to raise the Schengen visa fee to 60 euros from January 1st 2007 instead of 35 euros today.

The reason for this increase is to cover costs and implement new technology such as biometrics and identity database.

The citizens’ Pact for South East Europe wrote a statement against this raise on April 18th.

A Schengen visa will still be less expensive than a US visa. Unfortunately, for many people, it lowers holidays' budget.

30 Belarussian officials and the president have been forbidden to enter the European territory. This decision has been taken by EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

They are blacklisted from Schengen visas and also other EU countries visas.

In Strasbourg, the EU parliament has voted to allow Swiss foreigners with a residence permit to travel through Schengen countries without applying to a visa.

At the moment, a Turkish or Serbian resident wanting to travel home for the holidays by road would have to cross Austria or Italy, thus applying for a special transit visa from the revelent consulate or embassy. With this change, permissions to cross Schengen countries will be granted for five days.

This measure is temporary until Switzerland joins the Schengen accord, at the earliest in 2008. This will allow tourists who had a apply for a Schengen visa to request a Swiss visa also and systematic identity checks on the borders will be abandonned.

In order to fight against grandpa’s boom, any individual in the world is now allowed to travel, work and establish in Schengen countries and no restrictions apply. No VISA, Passport are necessary; a driving license, student card or local club membership cards are enough to establish now.