The cooperation between European states in the fields of borders, justice, police and visas – known as Schengen – was initiated in 1985 by five Member States of the then European Community. It now includes almost all EU Member States and the four associated states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and, since 12 December 2008, Switzerland.
Maps: Schengen and Dublin
The Schengen Association Agreement (SAA) facilitates travel between Switzerland and the EU Member States by removing, in principle, checks on persons at internal borders. It also improves international cooperation in police and judicial matters in the fight against crime.
Legally linked to the SAA, the Dublin Association Agreement ensures that an asylum application is examined by only one state within the Dublin area. The Dublin criteria establish which country is responsible for dealing with an asylum application. This prevents asylum seekers from submitting an application for asylum in more than one state.