Schengen agreement - GS questions based on daily current affairs

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- Andorra and San Marino are not part of Schengen, but they no longer have checks at their borders.
- The UK and Republic of Ireland have opted out. The UK wants to maintain its own borders, and Dublin prefers to preserve its free movement arrangement with the UK - called the Common Travel Area rather than join Schengen.
- The UK and Ireland began taking part in some aspects of the Schengen agreement, such as the Schengen Information System (SIS), from 2000 and 2002 respectively.
- The SIS enables police forces across Europe to share data on law enforcement. It includes data on stolen cars, court proceedings and missing persons.

ANSWER: Luxembourg

Explanation:
- Schengen is a small wine-making village and commune in far south-eastern Luxembourg, near the tripoint where the borders of Germany, France, and Luxembourg meet.
- “Schengen agreement", which came into effect in 1995, eliminated border checks among its members and allowed foreign visitors to travel throughout the area using one visa.
- Schengen is now a core part of EU law.Only six of the 28 EU member states are outside the Schengen zone - Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Prior to 1999, the Schengen treaties and the rules adopted under them operated independently from the European Union
- However, the Amsterdam Treaty incorporated them into European Union law, while providing opt-outs for the only two EU member states which had remained outside the Area: Ireland and the United Kingdom.
- Schengen is now a core part of EU law.Only six of the 28 EU member states are outside the Schengen zone - Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK.