Italy signs the Schengen Agreement (1)
01 January 1991
Italy signs the Schengen Agreement
artdoc May=1991
Statewatch no.1 March/April 1991
Italy became the sixth member of the European Community to sign the Schengen
Agreement in November last year. The Agreement was finally signed by Germany,
France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg in June 1990 after five years of
discussions. Spain and Portugal joined the Agreement at the same time as
observers, declaring their intention to eventually become members. The Agreement
covers the abolition of border controls, co-operation on visas, immigration and
police policies. While there is a convergence of views amongst the 12 EC
countries through the Trevi group, the one basic difference is over the need to
maintain border controls. The Schengen countries, eight of the EC countries, are
abolishing controls at the borders but the UK, Denmark, Greece and Ireland are
set to maintain internal controls. Financial Times, 28.11.90; Migration News
Sheet, December 1990.