The Schengen Agreement is a treaty that was signed in 1985 in Schengen, Luxembourg. The main aim of the agreement is to eliminate internal border checks and harmonize visa policies among member countries. With the agreement, citizens of the member states can travel freely within the Schengen Area without being subjected to border controls.
However, the United Kingdom is not a member of the Schengen Agreement. The UK has maintained its own border controls and visa policies, giving the country the authority to enforce its own immigration laws. This means that travelers to the UK are subject to border checks and visa requirements, even if they are citizens of Schengen Area member states.
The UK has always been an outlier when it comes to the Schengen Agreement. It has never been a member, nor has it expressed any desire to join in the future. Instead, the UK has been focused on strengthening its own border controls and immigration policies, especially in the wake of the Brexit referendum.
It is worth noting that the UK’s decision to stay out of the Schengen Agreement has not hindered its ability to cooperate with other European countries on border controls and immigration policies. For instance, the UK has signed bilateral agreements with other countries to tackle issues such as terrorism and illegal immigration. These agreements are often based on mutual trust and cooperation, rather than formal treaties such as the Schengen Agreement.
In conclusion, the UK is not a member of the Schengen Agreement. The country has maintained its own border controls and visa policies, giving it the authority to enforce its own immigration laws. While the UK’s decision to stay out of the Schengen Agreement may seem like a disadvantage, it has not prevented the country from working with other European countries to tackle common border control and immigration issues.
