Thursday, December 27, 2007

Schengen treaty eliminates border formalities between Finland and Estonia

HELSINGIN SANOMAT 12/21/07

Passports still checked at airports

Travel between Finland and Estonia was speeded up by a factor of several minutes at midnight Thursday when Estonia and eight other new European Union member states became part of the Schengen Treaty. Routine passport inspections ended for travel between Estonia and other signatories at all ports of entry except airports.

The treaty will extend to air travel in the new member states in March. The Schengen zone is based on the idea that external borders of the EU are closely monitored, but that there is free travel from one member state to another. Travellers are nevertheless expected to have a passport or other identification document with them. The Schengen zone also includes the non-EU members Norway and Iceland.

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Schengen treaty eliminates border formalities between Finland and Estonia