Schengen departures facility at MIA

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on Monday inaugurated the new departures facility at Malta International Airport, which is in line with the EU's Schengen Treaty. The Schengen Agreement is an arrangement among European states allowing for the abolition of...

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on Monday inaugurated the new departures facility at Malta International Airport, which is in line with the EU's Schengen Treaty.

The Schengen Agreement is an arrangement among European states allowing for the abolition of systematic border controls between the participating countries.

It also includes provisions on a common policy on the temporary entry of persons (including the Schengen visa), the harmonisation of external border controls, and cross-border police cooperation. A total of 30 states - including most EU states and three non-EU members: Norway and Iceland - have signed the agreement and 15 have implemented it so far. Ireland and the UK only take part in the police cooperation measures but, not the common border control and visa provisions.

Malta and most of the new EU member states will implement the Schengen Agreement in March 2008 at airports and in December this year at sea borders.

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