Schengen Area Border Regulations Quiz

The right of every person within a Member State to move freely between states without border controls.

The Schengen Agreement and the Schengen Convention, along with any acts adopted by the executive committee, form the legal foundation for the free movement of people within the Schengen area.

A legal framework that sets out the rules for internal and external border controls within the Schengen area.

Border controls between Schengen countries are essentially nonexistent, allowing people to move freely.

States that participate in the Schengen area but are not members of the European Union.

The concept that the scope of free movement varies between different regions within the Schengen area. Some areas might have more restrictions than others.

The introduction of temporary border controls at internal borders for specific reasons like preventing terrorism, ensuring public health, or managing large influxes of migrants.

EU law that created the European Union. It incorporated the Schengen Acquis, making free movement of people a core principle of the EU.

The Member State most involved in the entry of a person into the Schengen Area. They are primarily responsible for processing applications and managing the individual's stay.

A set of criteria used to determine the responsible Member State. They are applied in a specific order, prioritizing family reunification and protection of unaccompanied minors.

A mechanism to relocate asylum seekers across Member States when one country is overburdened, based on the principle of shared responsibility.

The EU legal framework for regulating entry and residence of TCNs, covering long-term visas, residence permits, and the rights of those residing legally.

A system for exchanging information on people crossing external borders, initially focused on criminal management but expanded in 2018 to include irregular migration.

A system storing data on Schengen visa applications across consulates and border points, processing information like fingerprints and visa decisions.

A database comparing fingerprints of asylum seekers, primarily for asylum procedures but also used for criminal management.

A system used by Schengen states for registering the entry and exit times of third-country nationals (TCNs) for short stays.

An online authorization system for visa-exempt travelers entering the Schengen area and Cyprus, requiring pre-arrival approval.

An EU agency responsible for securing the external borders of the Schengen Area, managing border controls and cooperating with national authorities.

The principle of free movement within the Schengen Area, allowing individuals to cross internal borders without checks. This is part of the Schengen Borders Code (SBC).

The Pact on Migration is a set of 9 separate acts, adopted in 2024, that aim to regulate the movement of third-country nationals (TCNs) within the EU.

TCNs or stateless persons who are in a regular situation in the EU, but are not family members, are eligible for certain rights under the Pact on Migration. These rights are not necessarily the same across all EU Directives.

A TCN seeking asylum in the EU is eligible for subsidiary protection, temporary protection, or refugee status under the Geneva Convention.

The Geneva Convention (1951) prohibits the deportation of refugees to countries where they face persecution (non-refoulement).

The Directive 2001/55 sets out minimum standards for granting temporary protection to people fleeing mass displacement events.

Those granted asylum in the EU have access to a range of rights, including a residence permit and the freedom to move within the EU.

The Long Term Residents Directive allows TCNs who have resided in an EU country for a prolonged period to apply for enhanced rights in other EU countries.

Under the new Pact, the provision of travel documents is more strict for asylum applicants, only granted in serious humanitarian cases or imperative circumstances.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that EU citizens have a right to a student loan in the country they are studying in.

The maximum extension period for internal border controls under the Schengen Border Code is 6 months.

The ECJ ruled that EU citizens have a right to a minimum subsistence allowance in the country they are residing in.

Categories A25, A28, and A29 are the 'exceptional circumstances' types for which a Member State (MS) can temporarily reinstate internal border controls within the Schengen Area.

The ECJ ruled that EU citizens have a right to a tide over allowance while waiting for a welfare benefit decision.

The A28 category is used for cases requiring immediate action, often in emergency situations.

The general framework for reintroducing internal borders under the Schengen system is described in Article 25 (A25) of the Schengen Border Code.

Social assistance in the EU is only available for EU citizens if they meet certain criteria and limitations. For example, non-workers are not eligible for social assistance for the first three months of their stay.

The ECJ has introduced a new criterion for access to social assistance: degree of integration into the host member state. This means that EU citizens may need to demonstrate that they are integrated into local society to be eligible for social assistance.

Internal border controls reintroduced under the A29 category are activated when exceptional circumstances put the functioning of the Schengen Area at risk.

The A25a category is used when internal border controls are reinstated due to foreseeable or unforeseeable events.

The UK left the EU and their citizens lost EU citizenship, but the withdrawal agreement guarantees some EU rights for UK citizens in the EU and EU citizens in the UK.

The Withdrawal Agreement ensures citizens' rights to enter, exit, residence, and permanent residence are maintained. However, specific formal requirements may be set by the host state.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) in April 2022 ruled that if there is no new threat after the initial 6-month period of internal border controls, extensions under A25 are not allowed.

The Withdrawal Agreement created a monitoring authority to investigate alleged breaches of the agreement by the UK. The agreement also allows the CJEU to give rulings on its interpretation for a defined period.

The Council of the European Union, on a proposal from the European Commission, recommends internal border controls, after which Member States (MS) have to notify the European Commission and other MS about their decision.