Schengen Agreement

Building on the progress at Maastricht, which envisaged the free movement of goods, people and capital, Schengen eliminated border controls within the community. Beginning in 1999, citizens of European Union member countries were able to move freely throughout the community. The agreement was signed by Luxembourg, Belgium Germany, France and the Netherlands in the border town of Schengen, Luxembourg, on June 14, 1985. The treaty also increased cooperation among EU members on the crime- and smuggling-fighting front. Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Sweden, Finland and Denmark joined later.