Italy Signs the Schengen Agreement for the Abolition of Border Controls

Italy signs the Schengen Agreement in Paris, which it eventually joined after a gradual adaptation on October 26, 1997. Since 1985, the Schengen Area has allowed individuals and businesses to travel and operate without border controls. It began in June 1985 with 5 countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands). Today it includes 25 EU countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland), and 4 non-EU countries (Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway).
The Schengen countries have also enhanced security at their common external borders.