The ship on which the Schengen Agreement was signed on 14 June 1985 by Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and France returns to Schengen. The countries did so on board the ship anchored in Schengen. Now the ship is returning to the village of Schengen in Luxembourg where it will be given a permanent berth. Schengen is the village near the border triangle between Luxembourg, Germany and France, where the treaty was signed at the time.
This ship, the MS Princesse Marie-Astrid, therefore has a historical significance. It is purchased by Luxembourg and converted into a European meeting place. This was announced today by the Luxembourg Minister of Tourism, Lex Delles. The project must be completed in 2025 and will cost a total of 5,8 million euros.
Part of the ship will be converted into a museum with a permanent exhibition on European integration and the Schengen Agreement. There will also be space for events on the ship. On special occasions the ship will sail through Europe.
On 14 June 1985, the heads of government of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and France signed the first Schengen Agreement. They agreed to abolish control of persons on their common borders. This created an area without internal borders known as the Schengen area.
The Single European Act was concluded in 1986 by the then twelve members of the European Community. This European act means that from 1993 there is an internal European market with free movement of capital, goods, services and persons. This Act transfers some powers from Member States to institutions of the European Union.
De Schengen countries conducted one common visa policy and agreed to introduce effective controls at the external borders. Internal border controls may be carried out for a limited period if public order or national security so require. The practical implementation of the agreements is regulated in the Schengen Implementation Agreement.
Today, 27 countries and more than 400 million inhabitants are part of the Schengen area.
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