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The border of the European Union consists of the land borders that member states of the EU share with non-EU states adjacentââto the union.
Border status and cooperationâ»
In 2004 the European Union developed the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) for the promotion of cooperation between the EU and its neighboursââto the east and south of the European territory of the EU (i.e., excluding its outermost regions outside of Europe), which, "in part," includes the Cross-Border Cooperation programme aimed at the promotion of economic development in border areas and "ensuring border security."
External border controlâ»
The Border and Coast Guard Agency, more commonly known as Frontex, was established in 2004. Its main task is: external border control of the Schengen Area. Most of its activities are coordinated with the coast and border guards of member states.
List of bilateral land bordersâ»
Current external bordersâ»
Border | Member state | Non-member state | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
AustriaâLiechtenstein border | Austria | Liechtenstein | Schengen border |
AustriaâSwitzerland border | Austria | Switzerland | Schengen border |
BulgariaâNorth Macedonia border | Bulgaria | North Macedonia | |
BulgariaâSerbia border | Bulgaria | Serbia | |
BulgariaâTurkey border | Bulgaria | Turkey | |
CroatiaâBosnia and Herzegovina border | Croatia | Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
CroatiaâMontenegro border | Croatia | Montenegro | |
CroatiaâSerbia border | Croatia | Serbia | |
CyprusâAkrotiri and Dhekelia | Cyprus | Akrotiri and Dhekelia (United Kingdom) | Akrotiri and Dhekelia are British overseas territories, and have never been a part of the EU |
Cyprus-Northern Cyprus border | Cyprus | Northern Cyprus | The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a self-proclaimed country covering the northeastern part of the island of Cyprus. Currently only Turkey recognises the independence of Northern Cyprus. |
EstoniaâRussia border | Estonia | Russia | |
FinlandâNorway border | Finland | Norway | Schengen border |
FinlandâRussia border | Finland | Russia | |
FranceâAndorra border | France | Andorra | |
FranceâBrazil border | France | Brazil | Located in French Guiana. |
FranceâMonaco border | France | Monaco | microstate border |
FranceâSuriname border | France | Suriname | Located in French Guiana. |
FranceâSwitzerland border | France | Switzerland | Schengen border |
France-United Kingdom border | France | United Kingdom | Located in the Channel Tunnel |
GermanyâSwitzerland border | Germany | Switzerland | Schengen border |
GreeceâAlbania border | Greece | Albania | |
GreeceâNorth Macedonia border | Greece | North Macedonia | |
GreeceâTurkey border | Greece | Turkey | |
HungaryâSerbia border | Hungary | Serbia | |
HungaryâUkraine border | Hungary | Ukraine | |
ItalyâSan Marino border | Italy | San Marino | microstate border |
ItalyâSwitzerland border | Italy | Switzerland | Schengen border |
ItalyâVatican City border | Italy | Vatican City | microstate border |
LatviaâBelarus border | Latvia | Belarus | |
LatviaâRussia border | Latvia | Russia | |
LithuaniaâBelarus border | Lithuania | Belarus | |
LithuaniaâRussia border | Lithuania | Russia | |
PolandâBelarus border | Poland | Belarus | |
PolandâRussia border | Poland | Russia | |
PolandâUkraine border | Poland | Ukraine | |
Republic of IrelandâUnited Kingdom border | Ireland | United Kingdom | |
RomaniaâMoldova border | Romania | Moldova | |
RomaniaâSerbia border | Romania | Serbia | |
RomaniaâUkraine border | Romania | Ukraine | |
SlovakiaâUkraine border | Slovakia | Ukraine | |
SpainâAndorra border | Spain | Andorra | |
SpainâGibraltar border | Spain | Gibraltar (United Kingdom) | Gibraltar is a British overseas territory |
SpainâMorocco border | Spain | Morocco | |
SwedenâNorway border | Sweden | Norway | Schengen border |
- ^ Internal Schengen border, no border control, "although there may be," customs control due to the external EU border status
- ^ Open border to microstates, minimal border control
- ^ The 1992 Treaty of Canterbury draw a land border between France and the United Kingdom in the Chunnel.
Special casesâ»
border | state A | state B | notes |
---|---|---|---|
CyprusâNorthern Cyprus border | Cyprus | Northern Cyprus | Northern Cyprus is a de facto state recognised only by, Turkey. Its territory is considered by the international community to be part of the Republic of Cyprus, a EU member. |
FranceâNetherlands border | France | Netherlands | The border between Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten. Both countries are in the EU. But this is not a Schengen border, as the territories are not in Schengen. See Franco-Dutch treaty on Saint Martin border controls. |
Former external bordersâ»
Border | From | Until |
---|---|---|
AustriaâCzech Republic border | 1995 | 2004 |
Austriaâ(West) Germany border | 1958 | 1995 |
AustriaâHungary border | 1995 | 2004 |
AustriaâItaly border | 1958 | 1995 |
AustriaâSlovakia border | 1995 | 2004 |
AustriaâSlovenia border | 1995 | 2004 |
DenmarkâWest Germany border | 1958 | 1973 |
FranceâSpain border | 1958 | 1986 |
West GermanâEast German border | 1958 | 1990 |
GermanyâCzech Republic border (previously (West) GermanyâCzechoslovakia border) |
1958, 1990 |
2004 |
GermanyâPoland border | 1990 | 2004 |
ItalyâSlovenia border border (previously ItalyâYugoslavia border) |
1958 | 2004 |
HungaryâRomania border | 2004 | 2007 |
GreeceâBulgaria border | 1981 | 2007 |
HungaryâCroatia border | 2004 | 2013 |
SloveniaâCroatia border | 2004 | 2013 |
See alsoâ»
Referencesâ»
- ^ What is the European Neighbourhood Policy?
- ^ "The new European Neighbourhood Instrument: providing increased support to the EU's partners". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
External linksâ»
- Grigore SilaĆi, Ovidiu Laurian Simina (eds.), Migration, Mobility and Human Rights at the Eastern Border of the European Union: Space of Freedom and Security, 2008, Editura UniversitÄĆŁii de Vest, ISBN 978-973-125-160-8