Última actualización Miércoles, 04/06/2025

Did you know that 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement?

In 1985, five European countries signed the Schengen Agreement on board a vessel on the River Moselle. Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands set the stage for the abolition of internal borders controls.

And today, crossing borders in Europe has become seamless. The Schengen area now includes 29 countries: 25 EU Member States and 4 non-EU countries ((Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein).

What does this mean?

🧳   Freedom of Movement: 450 million people travel without passport control for work, study and tourism.

💪  Stronger Economy: no border checks mean easier trade, lower costs and more jobs. 

👮‍   Secure Borders: countries work together to control borders, fight crime and manage migration. 

🌟  Schengen‘s Success: more and more countries joining,  Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2024. 

DiscoverEU

Young travellers with DiscoverEU truly appreciate this freedom of movement. Thanks to this Erasmus+ action, 18-year-olds can explore Europe by train, discovering its cultures, people, and places, without the hassle of border checks. The Schengen area isn’t just a policy; it’s a passport to discovery!

Find out more: History of Schengen – European Commission