The Schengen Agreement can rightfully be considered one of the most pleasant achievements in the tourism industry that has occurred over the past half century. In general, the idea of uniting European states and abolishing control between them on internal borders arose at the beginning of the 20th century, but it was realized only in the summer of 1985, when Germany , France , Belgium , Netherlands And Luxembourg signed the Schengen Agreement “On the gradual abolition of checks at common borders.”
Where does the name Schengen come from?
The 1985 Schengen Agreement was signed on the pleasure boat Princess Marie Astrid on the Moselle River near a small town in Luxembourg called Schengen. This is how an ordinary provincial town acquired global significance for all travelers of the world.
Why did this happen in Luxembourg? It's simple. It was this country that at the time of signing was the chairman of the Council of the European Union, and besides, its location is quite symbolic and suits the occasion - the borders of Belgium, Germany and France are located nearby. Then the agreement was signed by only 5 countries, which agreed that a Schengen visa issued by one of the countries has the same validity in other participating states. In addition, citizens of the zone countries were given the opportunity to move freely within the Schengen countries. Today the word “Schengen” is also used as a common noun meaning “a space without internal border controls.”
Which countries are included in the Schengen area?
The agreement signed in 1985 came into force only 10 years later, in the spring of 1995. Then 7 countries participated in the agreement: Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Portugal and France. Gradually the number grew, and by 2007 there were already 15 participating countries. Today, the Schengen area already includes 26 countries:
Which countries are not included in the Schengen area?
Many people confuse the concepts of the Schengen area and the European Union. If a country is located in the European Union, this does not mean that a Schengen visa is valid on its territory and vice versa. So, Iceland , Norway , Switzerland And Liechtenstein, which are not members of the European Union, are included in the Schengen zone, as are 3 micro-states of Europe: Monaco, San Marino and Vatican. All European Union countries except the UK and Ireland have pledged to join the Schengen area, and all but Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Croatia have already done so. Although you can enter Bulgaria with a Schengen visa.
What is a Schengen visa?
Schengen visa is a visa issued by one of the Schengen countries, which gives the right to free movement throughout all Schengen countries without internal border controls. Issued at the consulate of any country that is part of the Schengen agreement.
The list of Schengen countries in 2018 remains the same. This means that the same 26 states remain full members of the Schengen area. But this is not synonymous with the European Union. Further in the text we will tell you why these two concepts are both compatible and not.
The Schengen zone, which is simply called Schengen for short, was formed in 1985 in a village of the same name - Schengen, which is located in the southeastern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, almost on the very edge of the state, where it borders Germany and France. The Schengen Agreement was signed at that time by five European countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxembourg. It was then June 14th.
This agreement to simplify passport and visa control at the borders of a number of European Union states came into force only 10 years later - on March 26, 1995. However, it did not last long: it only lasted until May 1, 1999, when, in fact, it was replaced by the Schengen legislation of the European Union. By that time, a number of other states located in Europe had joined Schengen, a list of which we will give a little later.
Now we will tell you what the European Union is. The EU, as the European Union is abbreviated, is an economic and political union of 28 European states. Its main goal is regional integration. Legally, this union was enshrined in 1992 by the Maastricht Treaty (it also officially reads: “Treaty of European Union”), which includes the principles of the European Community.
The agreement came into force on November 1, 1993, that is, as you can see, about a year and a half before the Schengen Agreement came into effect. But the topic for our material is exclusively Schengen, so further discussion in the article will go directly about it.
List of Schengen countries in 2018
In 2018, the list of Schengen countries still includes 26 states that previously successfully joined and still enjoy all the benefits of the Schengen agreement. This free movement zone is still the ultimate dream for both hardcore tourists and people who travel around the world from time to time.
The list of all 26 Schengen countries in 2018 looks like this:
- Austria (hereinafter the list will indicate the year of accession to Schengen: 1995)
- Belgium (1985)
- Czech Republic (2004)
- Denmark (1996)
- Estonia (2004)
- Finland (1996)
- France (1985)
- Germany (1985)
- Greece (1992)
- Hungary (2004)
- Iceland (1996)
- Italy (1990)
- Latvia (2004)
- Lithuania (2004)
- Luxembourg (1985)
- Malta (2004)
- Netherlands (1985)
- Norway (1996)
- Poland (2004)
- Portugal (1992)
- Slovakia (2004)
- Slovenia (2004)
- Spain (1992)
- Sweden (1996)
- Switzerland (2004)
- Liechtenstein (2008)
Let us note that the well-known Brexit is the UK’s exit from the European Union, and not from the Schengen zone. The UK has, so to speak, a special relationship with the Schengen Agreement.
The following states are currently on the path to joining the ranks of the Schengen Agreement member countries:
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Croatia
In principle, this includes Ukraine, which recently received a visa-free regime with the European Union, and it seems that based on the results of this, it will soon be possible to clearly judge whether Ukraine will sign the Schengen Agreement in the near future or not.
Important information about Schengen
The list of Schengen countries for 2018 has not changed, but the procedures for passing border control for tourists, for whom previously travel within the Schengen area was free, have changed somewhat.
Due to the numerous flows of refugees, which were recorded in 2016 and 2017, the European Commission has limited controls at the borders of states belonging to the Schengen group. However, by 2018, as follows from recent news, members of the European Commission plan to level out this tougher measure in relation to absolutely all tourists, thereby everything should be returned to the previously established full-fledged work.
Today, the Schengen zone covers over 4 million square kilometers of the Old World, in which more than 400 million people live.
It is worth remembering that some countries have minor and not so minor restrictions, as well as their own visiting characteristics, along with some exceptions, so a tourist must collect complete information in advance about what he should do while staying on the territory of a foreign state in order this was within the scope of local laws.
The list of Schengen countries in 2018, as you can see, has not changed. The Schengen zone still includes 26 states that previously signed an agreement to simplify passport and visa control for their citizens. In conclusion, we can only wish you a pleasant flight and good mood throughout the entire trip. But how could it be otherwise?
In March 1995, the Schengen Agreement, signed back in 1985, came into force, according to which traveling around Europe has become much easier. The agreement provides for the conditions under which passport control in the states included in the Schengen zone was abolished. The agreement received this name in honor of the small village in which the document was signed.
Countries included in the Schengen area in 2019
All Schengen states in 2019, with the exception of three countries: , and , are members of the European Union. and – states that are members of the EU and are just about to accept the Schengen Agreement, so passport control has not yet been abolished in them.
To enter one of the 26 countries that have signed the agreement, you need. Based on this permit, you can freely visit any Schengen country.
However, there are some. For example, you need to enter another Schengen state through the country from which the visa was received.
The Schengen zone was created to facilitate border crossing, because this procedure often requires a lot of time. Therefore, 5 countries decided to sign an agreement that regulated the abandonment of border controls. This agreement was originally concluded between the Kingdom of Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and Germany. In 1990, the Italian Republic joined, and in 1991, Schengen was replenished by the Kingdom of Spain and Scotland. On November 6, 1992, the Greek Republic entered the Schengen zone.
Table: order of entry of republics
| Belgium | 19.05.1990 |
| Germany | 19.05.1990 |
| Luxembourg | 19.05.1990 |
| 19.05.1990 | |
| France | 19.05.1990 |
| Italy | 17.11.1990 |
| Spain | 25.06.1991 |
| Portugal | 25.06.1991 |
| 6.11.1992 | |
| Austria | 28.04.1995 |
| Denmark | 19.12.1996 |
| Sweden | 19.12.1996 |
| Iceland | 19.12.1996 |
| Norway | 19.12.1996 |
| 19.12.1996 | |
| Hungary | 1.05.2004 |
| 1.05.2004 | |
| Czech | 1.05.2004 |
| Slovakia | 1.05.2004 |
| Slovenia | 1.05.2004 |
| Latvia | 1.05.2004 |
| Lithuania | 1.05.2004 |
| Estonia | 1.05.2004 |
| Malta | 1.05.2004 |
| 28.02.2008 | |
| Switzerland | 16.10.2008 |
List of countries
So here is the complete list of countries that are included in Schengen in 2019.
- Austria is one of the ecologically clean zones of Europe. The state is divided into nine federal states. The capital of the country is Vienna.
- Belgium is a country located in Western Europe. The capital of the country is Brussels. According to its geographical structure, it is divided into several regions, including the coastal plain.
- Hungary is also a member of the Schengen zone. The capital of the state is the city of Budapest. It is popular among tourists due to the location of a large number of health resorts and sanatoriums on the territory.
- Germany is a country located in Western Europe. The capital of the country is Berlin. In Germany, passport control has been abolished in accordance with the Schengen Agreement.
- – a state with a developed information structure. Located in the Balkans, the capital of the country is Athens. This city is the financial center of the state; in addition, it attracts tourists with its amazing beauty, preserved from ancient times.
Orthodox Church in Greece.
- Denmark - this country joined the Schengen agreement without Greenland. The state is located in Northern Europe. The capital of Denmark is Copenhagen. The country's population is only 5.5 million people.
- Iceland is a state that includes a large island and several small islands scattered around it. The country amazes with its unique nature. This is what attracts tourists from all over the world.
- The Schengen countries include. It is located in the southwestern part of Europe. The capital of the state is Madrid. Spain is famous for its beaches and ski resorts.
- - a country in southern Europe. The capital is Rome. Both in the summer and winter seasons, the state is visited by millions of tourists. That is why tourism is one of the main specializations of the country.
- Latvia is a country located in Northern Europe. Joined the Schengen Agreement to increase the number of tourists. In Latvia, ancient architecture is carefully preserved and is the center of attention for travelers from all over the world.
- Lithuania is a country located in the Northern part of Europe. The capital of the state is the city of Vilnius. Lithuania joined the European Union and signed the Schengen Agreement in 2004. At the same time, passport control was abolished and a visa for crossing the border was introduced. Traveling to Lithuania is the best option for tourists who prefer a cool climate.
- Liechtenstein is a state located in Western Europe and recognized as a “dwarf” country. Its area is only 160 sq. km. The capital is Vaduz. Liechtenstein is not part of the European Union, but has agreed to sign the Schengen Agreement. The country gained popularity due to its large ski resort.
Castle in the mountains of Liechtenstein.
- is a country located in the Mediterranean Sea on islands. The capital of the state is Valletta. Travelers to Malta will enjoy many historical and architectural monuments. The mild climate, warm sea and sandy beaches will not leave any tourist indifferent. This state ranks one of the last in terms of crime rate.
- The Netherlands is a country located in Western Europe. The capital of the country is Amsterdam. The picturesque Netherlands attracts with its diverse nature and landscapes. The country agreed to sign the Schengen Agreement in order to prevent a decrease in the flow of tourists. Passport control has been abolished in the state.
Tulip field in Holland.
- is a country that has been part of the European Union since 1957. The capital of the state is Luxembourg. It is a major economic and financial center of the country. Luxembourg is a developed state that carries out successful economic, political and business activities. The country is included in the list of the five safest places in the world.
- Norway is located in Northern Europe. The capital of the state is the city of Oslo. Norway is included in the list of Schengen countries, but not completely. does not give the right to enter Spitsbergen and the Bear Islands. Passport control has been partially cancelled.
- Poland is located in Central Europe. Warsaw is the capital of the country. Since 2010, Poland has been recognized as an economically stable state. The country continues to progress and surpasses a number of European countries in its development. Tourism is poorly developed, due to the lack of popular resorts and beaches.
Detailed map of Poland.
- located on the Iberian Peninsula. The capital of the state is Lisbon. Portugal is a country with a rich historical heritage. It is expressed in architectural monuments and landmarks.
- Slovakia is located in Central Europe. The capital of the country is the city of Bratislava. Slovakia is a world of mountain peaks, ancient castles, fortresses and beautiful nature. The bulk of tourists go to treatment centers and sanatoriums in the country. In 2004, the state joined the European Union and then signed the Schengen Agreement. All sectors are dynamically developing in Slovakia: manufacturing, economic, economic and even tourism. It attracts travelers with thermal resorts.
- Slovenia is a small country located on the Balkan Peninsula. The capital of the state is Ljubljana. People come to Slovenia to ski and relax in the alpine nature.
- is a country located in Northern Europe. The capital of the state is Helsinki. Every season, streams of tourists from Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the world go to Finland to enjoy the beauty of nature and architectural monuments.
- The Schengen countries cannot be imagined without France. This state is located in Northern Europe, its capital is Paris. known to absolutely all tourists and travelers for its charm and sophistication. Passport control has been abolished in the state.
- is a country located in Central Europe. The capital of the state is Prague. The Czech Republic is rich in medieval cities in which every tourist can find something to their liking. To increase the flow of tourists, the Czech Republic agreed to sign the Schengen Agreement, which continues to operate in 2019.
- Switzerland is located in Western Europe. The capital of the country is Bern. Switzerland has many health and ski resorts that attract travelers.
- Sweden is the fifth largest country in Europe. The country is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, in its eastern part. Picturesque mountain cliffs and farmland are located on one side of Sweden, while snow hummocks reign on the other.
- Estonia is a country located in Northern Europe. It was added to the list of Schengen countries in 2004.
In accordance with the agreement, a generally accepted Schengen visa can be used to cross the borders of these states in 2019.
Where else can you enter with a Schengen visa in Europe?
It is worth immediately noting that the concepts of the EU and Schengen are different and should not be confused. The Schengen zone was created to facilitate travel between European countries. Today it includes 26 republics, which Russians can visit with a pre-issued visa.
Taking into account the operation of the European Economic Area, four more states practice the Schengen regime for crossing their territory. Although they did not officially sign the agreement:
In 2019, you can visit them with a Schengen visa issued in any country or apply for a national entry permit. However, the presence of a local visa, no matter in which country from the specified list it is issued, does not give the tourist the right to visit Schengen countries.
For reference. It is possible to enter the territory of any of these four applicant states on an internal visa. For example, with a Cyprus visa you can visit Croatia, Romania or Bulgaria.
Dwarf states: San Marino, Vatican City and Andorra can also be visited with Schengen visas. Their diplomatic missions do not issue Schengen visas on their own. San Marino and the Vatican can only be reached from Italy, and Andorra from Spain.
The above candidate countries have not yet become members of the Schengen Agreement for various reasons. The fact is that in order to join, states must meet a number of requirements that the republics have not yet fulfilled. One of the main requirements is to ensure strict control.
EU countries that are not part of Schengen apply their own migration policies, for example, and.
Great Britain and Ireland are preparing to leave the Eurozone. However, in 2019, the United Kingdom is still part of it, but you cannot enter its territory with a Schengen visa. Visitors will need to apply for a UK national visa.
Unions of the EU and Schengen
Due to the fact that many republics want to join the Schengen zone, it was decided to sign the Amsterdam Treaty in 1999, which regulated that from the date of signing all the rules of the Schengen agreements become part of the current legislation of Europe.
European states that are not part of the Schengen area
Russians do not need a visa for some of them in 2019:
- Great Britain (applying for a British visa takes a fair amount of time and requires collecting all the necessary documents),
- Ireland (national visa required),
- (you can enter with a foreign passport for 90 days),
- (you can stay 90 days without a visa),
- Cyprus (you can travel with a Schengen visa, or you can get a free electronic entry permit for 90 days),
- Romania (national visa is issued),
- (a foreign passport and invitation are required, you can stay in the country for 90 days),
- (you can enter with a national Russian passport, the time spent in the country is not limited),
- (you only need a foreign passport, the permitted visa-free period of stay is 90 days),
- Russia,
- (a visa is not required during the summer tourist period, each year the exact dates are determined individually. In 2019, the “visa-free” is valid from April 1 to October 31),
- (no visa required for travel up to 30 days),
- (the visa-free regime is valid until March 15, 2019. It is expected that the visa-free regime will be extended until next year),
- (a foreign passport is required, which allows you to stay on the territory of the state for 30 days),
- (you can stay in the country for 365 days without a visa),
- (no visa required, time for stay in the country is unlimited),
- LTV - visa for emergency short-term entry/exit/transit into a limited territory of a Schengen state.
Categories of visas for entry into Schengen
To ensure the procedure for visiting European countries by foreign citizens, the migration legislation of the Old World suggests that visitors purchase entry visas in accordance with the purposes of the visit. Each category has a specific designation:
According to the general migration policy, the rules for obtaining a visa at any consulate of a European country are the same. There may be minor differences, for example, clarification of the purpose of entry into the state. But it is necessary to prepare documents at the representative office of the country where you are planning a trip or transit entry from the Russian Federation.
Helpful information! You should not apply for a visa, for example, (because the consulate is close), but spend most of your time or. This is not welcomed by the European side and can cause trouble in the form of personal sanctions.
Gaddafi's grandiose project - a great man-made river
Gaddafi's most ambitious project is the Great Man-Made River. The media kept quiet about this Libyan project
Great man-made river The Great Manmade River, GMR) is a complex network of conduits that supplies desert areas and the coast of Libya with water from the Nubian Aquifer. By some estimates, this is the largest engineering project in existence. This huge system of pipes and aqueducts, which also includes more than 1,300 wells more than 500 meters deep, supplies the cities of Tripoli, Benghazi, Sirte and others, supplying 6,500,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day. named this river "The Eighth Wonder of the World". In 2008, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized the Great Man-Made River as the largest irrigation project in the world.
September 1, 2010 is the anniversary of the opening of the main section of the Great Libyan artificial river. The media kept quiet about this Libyan project, but, by the way, this project surpasses the largest construction projects. Its cost is 25 billion.
Back in the 80s, Gaddafi began a large-scale project to create a network of water resources, which was supposed to cover Libya, Egypt, Sudan and Chad. To date, this project has almost been completed. The task was, it must be said, historical for the entire North African region, because the problem of water has been relevant here since the times of Phenicia. And, more importantly, no money was spent on a project that could turn the whole of North Africa into a blooming garden. not a single cent from the IMF. It is with the latter fact that some associate the current destabilization of the situation in the region.
The desire for a global monopoly on water resources is already the most important factor in world politics. And in the south of Libya there are four giant water reservoirs (oases Kufra, Sirt, Morzuk And Hamada). According to some data, they contain an average of 35,000 cubic meters. kilometers (!) of water. To imagine this volume, it is enough to imagine the entire territory as a huge lake 100 meters deep. Such water resources undoubtedly represent separate interest. And maybe he more than interest in Libyan oil.
This water project was called the “Eighth Wonder of the World” due to its scale. It provides a daily flow of 6.5 million cubic meters of water through the desert, greatly increasing the area of irrigated land. 4 thousand kilometers of pipes buried deep into the ground due to the heat. Underground water is pumped through 270 shafts from hundreds of meters deep. A cubic meter of clean water from Libyan reservoirs, taking into account all costs, can cost 35 cents. This is the approximate cost of a cubic meter of cold water. If we take the cost of a European cubic meter (about 2 euros), then the value of water reserves in Libyan reservoirs is 58 billion euros.
The idea of extracting water hidden deep under the surface of the Sahara Desert appeared back in 1983. In Libya, like its Egyptian neighbor, only 4% territory, in the rest 96% The sands reign supreme. Once upon a time, on the territory of modern Jamahiriya there were riverbeds that flowed into. These riverbeds dried up long ago, but scientists were able to establish that at a depth of 500 meters underground there are huge reserves - up to 12 thousand cubic meters km of fresh water. Its age exceeds 8.5 thousand years, and it makes up the lion's share of all sources in the country, leaving an insignificant 2.3% for surface water and a little more than 1% for desalinated water.
Simple calculations showed that the creation of a hydraulic system that would allow pumping water from Southern Europe would give 0.74 cubic meters. m of water for one Libyan dinar. Delivery of life-giving moisture by sea will bring benefits of up to 1.05 cubic meters. m for one dinar. Desalination, which also requires powerful, expensive installations, is losing out significantly, and only the development "The Great Man-Made River" will allow you to receive 9 cubic meters from each dinar. meters.
The project is still far from complete completion - the second phase is currently underway, which involves laying the third and fourth stages of pipelines hundreds of kilometers inland and installing hundreds of deep-water wells. There will be a total of 1,149 such wells, including more than 400 that remain to be built. Over the past years, 1,926 km of pipes have been laid, with another 1,732 km ahead. Each 7.5 meter steel pipe reaches 4 meters in diameter and weighs up to 83 tons, and in total there are more than 530.5 thousand such pipes. The total cost of the project is $25 billion. As Libyan Minister of Agriculture Abdel Majid al-Matrouh told reporters, the bulk of the extracted water – 70% – goes to the needs of the country, 28% goes to the population, and the rest goes to industry.
“According to the latest research by experts from Southern Europe and North Africa, water from underground sources enough for another 4860 years, although the average lifespan of all equipment, including pipes, is designed to be 50 years,” he said. The man-made river now irrigates about 160 thousand hectares of the country, which is being actively developed for agriculture. And hundreds of kilometers to the south, on the routes of camel caravans, water trenches brought to the surface of the earth serve as a transshipment point and resting place for people and animals.
Looking at the result of the work of human thought in Libya, it is difficult to believe that Egypt, which is experiencing the same problems, suffers from overpopulation and cannot in any way share the resources of the Nile with its southern neighbors. Meanwhile, on the territory of the Country of pyramids are also hidden underground countless reserves of life-giving moisture, which is more valuable to desert dwellers than all treasures.
With its water project, Libya could start a real green revolution. Literally, of course, which would solve a lot of food problems in Africa. And most importantly, it would ensure stability and economic independence. Moreover, there are already known cases when global corporations blocked water projects in the region. and the IMF, for example, blocked the construction of the canal on the White Nile - Jonglei Canal- in southern Sudan, it was started there and everything was abandoned after the American intelligence services provoked the growth of separatism there. It is, of course, much more profitable for the IMF and global cartels to impose their own expensive projects, such as desalination. An independent Libyan project did not fit into their plans. Compare with neighboring Egypt, where over the past 20 years all irrigation and water supply improvement projects have been sabotaged behind them.
Gaddafi called on Egyptian farmers, 55 million of whom live in the crowded region along the banks of the Nile, to come and work in the fields of Libya. 95% of Libya's land is desert. The new artificial river opens up enormous opportunities for the development of this land. Libya's own water project was a slap in the face to the World Bank and IMF and the entire West.