Difference Between The European Union and Schengen
The European Union (EU) and the Schengen Area are related but distinct entities in Europe, each serving different purposes:
1. European Union (EU):
The European Union is a political and economic union comprising 27 European countries (as of my last update in September 2021). Its main objectives are to promote peace, stability, and economic cooperation among its member states. The EU has a single market that allows for the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people within its borders. It also has its own currency, the Euro (adopted by 19 member countries), and numerous institutions to manage its policies and affairs.
The EU encompasses various policies, including economic coordination, trade agreements, environmental regulations, consumer protection, and more. It is governed by various bodies, such as the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament, and the European Court of Justice.
2. Schengen Area:
The Schengen Area is a group of 26 European countries (as of my last update) that have abolished internal border controls between each other. This agreement allows for passport-free travel within the participating countries, essentially creating a common travel zone. It was established with the signing of the Schengen Agreement in 1985, named after the village of Schengen in Luxembourg where the agreement was signed.
The Schengen Area operates independently of the European Union, meaning that some EU member countries are not part of the Schengen Area (e.g., Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and Cyprus), and some non-EU countries are part of the Schengen Area (e.g., Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein).
To summarize, the main difference between the EU and the Schengen Area is that the EU is a broader political and economic union, while the Schengen Area is a specific agreement aimed at facilitating the free movement of people across its participating countries by removing internal border controls. Some countries are part of both the EU and the Schengen Area, while others are only part of one or the other.
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