Index – Understanding Europe from A to Z
Date: 16/04/2024
What is the difference between the EEC and the European Union? Which countries are part of the Schengen area but not of the EU? Which countries use the Euro? What is visa travel insurance? What are the EES, ETIAS, ETA…? In this A to Z glossary we will answer all your questions concerning Europe, helping you prepare for your future travels for business or pleasure.
A
Albania
Albania is a relatively small (28,700 km²) country located in the Balkan Peninsula with a population of a little over 3 million inhabitants. It shares its borders with Montenegro, North Macedonia and Greece. Its northern coasts are washed by the Adriatic Sea and its southern coasts by the Ionian Sea.
- Capital city: Tirana
- EU member? No but Albania has officially been an EU candidate since 2014.
- Schengen country? No
- Schengen visa required? Even though Albania is not part of the Schengen area, Schengen citizens, or third-country nationals with a Schengen visa, can travel to Albania without any other additional formalities than their passport
- Part of the Euro zone? No. The national currency is the Lek.
Did you know? In Albania, the meaning of nodding or shaking your head is reversed! If you want to agree, you must shake your head from one side to the other. But if you disagree, you must nod!
Andorra
The Principality of Andorra is a micro-state located in the East of the Pyrenees Mountains, nestled between France and Spain. It is one of the smallest European sovereign states with its 468 km² surface area and fewer than 80,000 inhabitants.
- Capital city: Andorra la Vella
- EU member? No
- Schengen country? No
- Schengen visa required? No. Travellers who do need a visa to enter the Schengen area must apply for a multiple-entry visa to visit Andorra. Indeed, travelling from France to Andorra implies exiting the Schengen area. When travellers return to France or move on to visit Spain for example, it means they are re-entering the Schengen area. Therefore a multiple-entry visa is required. To find out more on Andorra’s entry requirements, visit the website of the tourism office of Andorra
- Part of the Euro zone? No but Andorra has used the Euro since its creation on January 1st 1999 and has even minted its own coins since July 1st 2013
Did you know? Two co-princes are at the head of Andorra: the Spanish bishop of Urgel and the French president, currently Emmanuel Macron.
Austria
Austria is a mountainous country located in central Europe. 9.1 million people inhabit its 82,519 km² surface area. It shares its borders with many other countries: Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
- Capital city: Vienna EU member? Yes, since January 1st 1995
- Schengen country? Yes, since December 1st 1997
- Schengen visa required? Yes. Third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Austria
- Part of the Euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 1999
Did you know? Austria is the birthplace of many “celebrities”: Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss, Gustav Mahler for classical music, Sigmund Freud for psychoanalysis, Romy Schneider and Arnold Schwarzenegger for the movie industry, Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt for painting…
B
Belgium
Belgium is one of the founding countries of the EEC, the ancestor of the European Union. The North Sea washes its northern coasts and France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg are its bordering neighbours. Its capital, Brussels, shelters several European and international institutions including the European Commission.
- Capital city: Brussels EU member? Yes, since January 1st 1958 (founding country)
- Schengen country? Yes, since March 26 1995 (founding country)
- Schengen visa required? Yes. Third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Belgium
- Part of the Euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 1999 (founding country)
Did you know? In Belgium, voting is compulsory. Anyone skipping the polls risks sanctions
Brexit
On January 31st 2020, the United Kingdom left the EU, resulting in what is now commonly called Brexit. During the June 23rd 2016 referendum, 51.9% of British people voted in favour of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
This separation, after a 60 year old union, required a transition period and the instauration of new rules between the EU and the UK in many areas. On December 30th 2020, a trade and cooperation agreement was signed. It came into effect on April 28th 2022. It concerns, among other things, the free movement of goods, competition, social security, transport, safety, etc.
For travellers, the main point is that the free-movement of people is no longer possible and border controls have been re-established. For short-stays, no visa is required for EU nationals but starting 2024, they will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation.
Furthermore, EU nationals wishing to settle in the United Kingdom must, depending on their situation, apply for a visa and vice versa.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a 110, 944 km² Balkan country with a little over 6.8 million inhabitants, bounded by the Black Sea in the East and sharing its borders with Greece, Turkey, Romania, Serbia and Northern Macedonia.
- Capital city: Sofia
- EU member? Yes, since January 1st 2007
- Schengen country? Partially. Since March 31st 2024, air and sea entry points are no longer controlled but land border controls remain
- Schengen visa required? No. A third-country national wishing to visit Bulgaria must still apply for a visa with Bulgarian authorities. But the country will soon align its visa granting process with other Schengen states, particularly concerning short-stay visas
- Part of the Euro zone? No. The Bulgarian currency is the Lev
Did you know? The Bulgarian Izlel je Delyo Hajdutin, performed by Valya Balkanska, is one of the 27 songs featured on the record sent to space in 1977 on board the Voyager probes with the purpose of introducing Earth and its inhabitants to potential extraterrestrial civilisations.
C
Croatia
Croatia is a 55.896 km² country located in central Europe with a population of a little less than 4 million inhabitants. Part of former Yugoslavia, it has been an independent nation since June 25th 1991, recognised as such by the international community since January 15th 1992.
Capital city: Zagreb.
EU member? Yes, since January 1st 2013.
Schengen country? Yes, since January 1st 2023.
Schengen visa required? Yes. Third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Croatia.
Part of the eurozone (EZ)? Yes, since January 1st 2023.
Did you know? The ancestor of the modern necktie or cravat was born in Croatia. In the 17th century, the Croatian hussars were called the Croats or Cravats or Crabats. Around their neck, they proudly bore a white piece of cloth which Louis XIII found very to his liking. It became a fashionable item worn at his court under the name cravate, a mispronunciation of the word Croat.
Cyprus
Cyprus is a 9, 2551 km² island in the East of the Mediterranean Sea. Its particularity is to be divided between a southern independent part (61% of its surface area) and a northern part annexed by Turkey. Its population includes 1.3 million inhabitants. The northern part of the island is not officially recognised by the UN or the EU.
- Capital city: Nicosia
- EU member? Yes, since May 1st 2004
- Schengen country? No. But Cyprus has applied to be part of the Schengen area
- Schengen visa required? Even though Cyprus is not part of the Schengen area and consequently doesn’t deliver Schengen visas, Schengen nationals or third-country nationals with a Schengen visa, can visit Cyprus without additional formalities other than the presentation of their passport
- Part of the Euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 2008
Did you know? The Hala Sultan Tekke mosque is one of the three most revered Muslim sites in the World. It is where Umm-Haram, a relative of the Prophet, fell from her horse and died during the first Arab conquest of Cyprus in the 7th century.
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Denmark
With its 41, 987 km², Denmark is one of the smallest states of the European Union. Its population with its Viking heritage reaches almost 6 million inhabitants. It is the most southern of Scandinavian countries and the first to have joined the EEC during its first upsizing in 1973 but its application dates back to 1961.
Capital city: Copenhagen.
EU member? Yes, since January 1st 1973.
Schengen country? Yes, since March 25th 2001.
Schengen visa required? Yes. Third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Denmark.
Part of the eurozone? No. The Danish currency is the Danish Krone (DKK). The country having negotiated an EMU opt-out, it is exempt from adopting the euro.
Did you know? Even though it is located near Canada, Greenland is actually part of the Kingdom of Denmark but as a self-governing, autonomous country. Several US presidents (including Harry S Truman and Donald Trump) have offered several times to buy the island! Denmark has always declined.
E
EEC
The European Economic Community (the EEC) was created in 1957 by Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands with the idea of “building Europe” by establishing privileged relations between countries and avoiding the conflicts which had led to World War I and WWII.
It became the European Union on November 1st 1993 and has, over the years, expanded: 1973 (the UK, Denmark and Ireland), 1981 (Greece) and 1986 (Spain, Portugal). The most important expansion took place in 2007 when it welcomed 15 new countries.
The main goal of the EEC was to strengthen the bonds between European people. Common actions leading to economic and social progress would eliminate the barriers which used to divide Europe. The first step was a single European market with the removal of customs duty between countries and the implementation of free movement of goods between member states.
Members also decided to develop common policies concerning agriculture (the CAP), transport and external trade.
They then sought to implement free movement of people in the European area, to eliminate internal borders and to inaugurate a common external policy, leading to the creation of the Schengen area.
Last but not least, a fundamental stage of European unification, dating back to 1999 but started at the time of the EEC, the establishment of the Euro as the common currency between 11 countries later joined by 9 others.
EES
The EES (Entry/Exit System) is a European IT system which is scheduled to be implemented at the end of 2024, early 2025 at the borders of the Schengen area. Its purpose is to automatically register the movements of certain travellers in and out of the area.
It concerns exclusively third-country nationals travelling to Europe for a short stay (less than 3 months), those who need a visa to enter the Schengen area as well as those who are exempt from it.
The system relies on the combination of two key elements: automatic control terminals installed at the passage points of the external borders of the Schengen area and a centralised database.
When crossing the border, the traveller scans their passport, fingerprints and facial images on an automatic terminal. The machine then compares the given information to those stored in the database and validates the person’s id. With this reliable information at their disposal, a border control agent can now make an informed decision to authorise or not the traveller to enter the Schengen area.
If the traveller’s data is not already registered in the system, they will have to enter their information during their first visit in a country using the ESS.
Countries using the EES are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Using the EES will be a great time saver during border crossing. It will allow tighter controls against illegal migration, making identity theft or forgery harder or even impossible and more generally it will reinforce safety within the Schengen area.
Estonia
Estonia is located in Northern Europe and in the south of Finland, both countries being separated by the Baltic Sea. Estonia is one of the three Baltic states. Its 43.110 m² surface area is inhabited by a little more than 1.3 million people, a third of which resides in Tallinn, the capital city, with its medieval old town listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
Capital city: Tallinn.
EU member? Yes, since May 1st 2004.
Schengen country? Yes, since December 21st 2007.
Schengen visa required? Yes, Third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Estonia.
Part of the eurozone? Yes, since January 1st 2011.
Did you know? Once a Soviet republic known for its heavy bureaucracy, Estonia is today the most digitised country in Europe and has often been considered a pioneer in this field. Transport tickets, school report cards, medical subscriptions, ID documents, ballot papers and even marriage contracts are dematerialised.
ETA
The ETA is the Electronic Travel Authorization demanded by the United Kingdom to enter and stay on its territory, i.e. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Its implementation started on November 15th 2023 and will last two years, organised by groups of countries. ETA will become compulsory to enter and stay on British territory.
It concerns travellers who used to be able to enter the United Kingdom without any procedure, particularly citizens of EU countries and those belonging to a country which has signed a visa waiver agreement with the UK.
Travellers who need a visa to visit the United Kingdom do not need to apply for an ETA.
Applications must be registered 3 days maximum before the scheduled date of departure to the UK. The authorisation is dematerialised and attached to your passport number. It remains valid for 2 years and costs €12.
ETIAS
The ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is an electronic travel authorisation, similar to the American ESTA, which will be compulsory starting mid-2025 for the citizens of some countries wishing to travel to Europe.
It will be demanded by the 30 following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
It concerns the nationals of about sixty states who do not need to apply for a visa to enter the Schengen area for stays shorter than 3 months, their countries having signed a visa waiver agreement with the European Union.
This mandatory travel authorisation is dematerialised and attached to your passport number.
The ETIAS application form is completed online. The answer is delivered in around 96 hours; the request must thus be registered at least 4 days before the scheduled date of departure.
It costs €7, is valid 3 years and allows a stay of 90 days maximum.
Euro
The euro (€ ou EUR) is the official currency of the 20 countries part of the European Union, together they form the euro area, commonly called the eurozone.
The initial goal of the European Economic Community (EEC) was to abolish custom duties between member states in order to facilitate free movement of goods and services. Creating a unique European currency was the next sensible move.
The ECU (European Currency Unit) was adopted in the Seventies. It wasn’t an actual currency but an electronic unit of account. It was used as a prototype of the euro which replaced the ECU on January 1st 1999, first as book money only (dematerialized). On January 1st 2002, coins and notes were introduced. The euro is managed by the European Central Bank (ECB).
To be part of the eurozone, member states must comply with strict criteria concerning, budget deficit, debt, inflation and interest rates.
The euro is now the second currency in the world (after the US dollar USD) when it comes to global payments and the first when it comes to the number of circulating banknotes.
The twenty countries part of the eurozone are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
Distant regions, attached to EU governments, such as the French Overseas Departments and Territories or the Spanish Canary Islands, also use the euro.
Some countries and micro-states which are not part of the European Union, have also adopted the euro as their currency: Andorra, Kosovo, Montenegro, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican.
6 E.U. countries are scheduled to join the eurozone when they meet the required criteria: Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden and the Czech Republic. As did the UK when it was part of the EU, Denmark has chosen an EMU opt-out and thus still uses its currency, the Danish Krone.
F
Finland
Finland is a northern European country. Its 304.316 km² surface area shelters 5.6 million people, 16 inhabitants per km², the lowest population density in the European Union. It shares its borders with Russia to the east, Norway to the north and Sweden to the west.
Capital city: Helsinki
EU member? Yes, since January 1st 1995.
Schengen country? Yes, since March 25th 2001.
Schengen visa required? Yes, Third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Finland.
Part of the euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 1999.
Did you know? The Finns are the biggest coffee drinkers in the World with about 7.4 kg per inhabitant a year. Closely followed by other northern countries: the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. It is the only country in the World where coffee breaks are mandatory and specified as such in labour regulations! According to the Finnish collective labour agreement, a six-hour working day must include two coffee breaks of 10 to 15 minutes each!
France
With its 551.695 km² of metropolitan surface area, France is the biggest EU country and the second after Germany in terms of population with a little over 68 million inhabitants. With Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, France was in 1958 one of the six founding countries of the EEC, the former European Union, which now includes 27 members. With Germany, it is one of the main economic driving forces of the European Union.
Capital city: Paris
EU member? Yes, since January 1st 1958 (founding member).
Schengen country? Yes, since March 26th 1995 (founding member).
Schengen visa required? Yes, third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to France.
Part of the euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 1999 (founding member).
Did you know? Robert Schuman’s declaration on May 9th 1950 is often considered as the founding text of European integration. However, Victor Hugo who was not only an internationally renowned author but also an eminent politician was among the first to express his desire for the creation of the United States of Europe. On March 1st 1871 at the French National Assembly he passionately declared: “No more frontiers! The Rhine for everyone! Let us be the same Republic, let us be the United States of Europe, let us be the continental federation, let us be European liberty, let us be universal peace!”
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Germany
The fourth largest country of the EU (353, 300 km2) and the most populated (84.4 million inhabitants), Germany is one of the founding countries of the EEC, the ancestor of the EU. The country was officially born in its current configuration on October 3rd 1990, after the unification of the German Federal Republic and the German Democratic Republic, following the collapse of the Soviet Union in November 1989.
- Capital city: Berlin EU member? Yes, since January 1st 1958 (founding country)
- Schengen country? Yes, since March 26th 1995 (founding country)
- Schengen visa required? Yes. Third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Germany
- Part of the Euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 1999 (founding country)
Did you know? Germany is the second country in the World with the most Olympic medallists, just after the United States (since the Modern Games were invented in 1896).
Greece
Located at the extreme south east of Europe, Greece is a 130.048 km² country with a population of about 10.7 million. It shares its land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey.
20 % of its territory is composed of 9,000 islands, 80 % of which are mountainous. The cradle of European civilisation, it entered the EU in 1981. Struggling with economic turmoil, it is one of the European countries with the lowest GDP per inhabitant.
Capital city: Athens
EU member? Yes, since January 1st 1981.
Schengen country? Yes, since January 1st 2000.
Schengen visa required? Yes, third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Greece.
Part of the euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 2001.
Did you know? If Pierre de Coubertin did resuscitate the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, he was not the first to tackle the project. In 1859 and 1870, Evángelos Záppasn an extremely wealthy Greek entrepreneur and philanthropist, also tried to bring the event back to life. Because of the war context between France and Prussia, he failed to find the support he was seeking.
H
Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country of central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovenia and Croatia to the west, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Slovakia to the north and Serbia to the south. Its 91.248 km² surface area is home to 9.6 million people.
Capital city: Budapest
EU member? Yes, since January 1st 2004.
Schengen country? Yes, since December 1st 2007.
Schengen visa required? Yes, third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Hungary.
Part of the euro zone? No. Its currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF). However, Hungary is ready to adopt the euro as soon as it meets the euro convergence criteria.
Did you know? Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t Marcel Bich, founder of the company Bic, who invented the ballpoint pen but the Hungarian László Biró in 1938. With his brother Georg and associate Hansi Meyne, they successfully founded their manufacturing company to produce their pens which were sold by the brand Binome. Marcel Bich bought the patent in 1949 and launched the internationally known Cristal Bic in 1950. In 2020, the company announced it had sold over 100 billion Bic pens since its creation. However, in many countries today, people still call the ballpoint pen a “biro”.
I
Iceland
Iceland is an island nation of Northern Europe. Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland to the east and Norway to the west, its surface area covers 102.775 km². Because of its important volcanic activity, half of the territory is devoid of vegetation. Only 376,000 Icelanders live on the island, over two-third of which live in the capital city of Reykjavik. It is one of the safest countries and its population enjoys one of the best healthcare systems in the World. It is one of the few countries which are part of the Schengen area but not of the European Union.
Capital city: Reykjavik
EU member? No.
Schengen country? Yes, since March 25th 2001.
Schengen visa required? Yes, third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Iceland.
Part of the euro zone? No. Iceland’s currency is the Icelandic Krόna.
The exchange rate is about €1 for 150 ISK.
Did you know? Almost 100% of Icelandic electricity consumption is provided by renewable energy sources! The main one being geothermal energy which is used, among other things, for district heating, fish farms and greenhouses. The rest is provided by hydropower thanks to the island’s important hydraulic activity. Wind power also offers great promises in the country, an opportunity which will be fully exploited in the near future. Its optimized use of renewable energies makes Iceland a model for the rest of the World.
Italy
Italy and its 297.525 km² surface area is the home of almost 59 million people, the 3rd largest population of the European Union. With Greece, Italy is the cradle of European civilisation and is one of the 6 founding members of the EEC, the former EU, with Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
EU member? Yes, since January 1st 1958 (founding member).
Schengen country? Yes, since October 26 1997.
Schengen visa required? Yes, third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Italy.
Part of the euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 1999 (founding member).
Did you know? The Tower of Pisa, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, started to lean well before its construction was over, when only three floors had been built. Even if it was interrupted several times, its erection continued nonetheless. Started in 1173, it was finished 200 years later, in 1373. Build on soft ground and insufficient foundations, the tower moved continuously for centuries, until it reached a record inclination in 1990 which led to it being closed to the public in 1990. After 20 years of consolidation work, it has been stabilised for at least 200 years and since 2001 can once again welcome visitors.
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Latvia
Latvia is located in Northern Europe. Its west coast washed by the Baltic Sea, it is bordered by Estonia to the north, Russia and Belarus to the east, Lithuania to the south. Its 63.290 km² surface area is populated by almost 1.9 million inhabitants. As its neighbour Lithuania, it was for a long time under German, Polish, Swedish and Russian domination. It has been an independent republic since 1991.
Capital city: Riga
EU member? Yes, since May 1st 2004.
Schengen country? Yes, since December 21st 2007.
Schengen visa required? Yes, third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Latvia.
Part of the euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 2014.
Did you know? Traditional folk music is very important in Latvia. Half of the population is part of a choir or plays an instrument. Dainas are thousand year old folk songs written in verse, in a very simple style. They describe scenes of rural life and address themes such as childhood, marriage, work or old age. They have been passed on from generation to generation. Between 1986 and 1991, when the population rose against 50 years of Soviet domination, it was to the beat of these timeless chants that the movement grew. The uprising is now known as the Singing Revolution.
Lithuania
Located in Northern Europe, Lithuania is washed by the Baltic Sea. It shares its borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east, Poland and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to the south. Its territory covers a 62.643 km² surface area and is populated by 2.8 million inhabitants.
A major European power during the 14th century, it was occupied by Germany, Poland and the USSR before regaining its independence in 1991. Thanks to its magnificent scenery, forests, lakes and national parks combined to the architectural and cultural diversity of its capital Vilnius, Lithuania has become a popular destination for tourists.
Capital city: Vilnius.
EU member? Yes, since May 1st 2004.
Schengen country? Yes, since December 21st 2007.
Schengen visa required? Yes, third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Lithuania.
Part of the euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 2015.
Did you know? Lithuanian is one of the oldest European languages. Even if it was influenced by German, Polish and Russian, it has preserved many features of primitive Indo-European languages and resembles by its sounds and syntax Sanskrit and Latin. Its alphabet holds 6 additional letters to express all its linguistic nuances.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a west European country located between Germany to the east, Belgium to the west and France to the south. With a surface area of 2.586 km², it is one of the smallest EU countries. It is populated by a little less than 661,000 inhabitants, half of foreign origins, mostly Portuguese and French. It is one of the 6 founding countries of the EEC, the former European Union, along with Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and the Netherlands. It is also the EU country with the highest GDP per inhabitant.
Capital city: Luxembourg
EU member? Yes, since January 1st 1958 (founding member).
Schengen country? Yes, since March 26th 1995.
Schengen visa required? Yes, third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Luxembourg.
Part of the euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 1999 (founding member).
Did you know? The official language of Luxembourg is Luxembourgish but the country is actually trilingual since French and German are also used in everyday life, sometimes simultaneously. It is not uncommon to find newspaper articles written in German next to articles written in French. Primary school classes are taught in German while French is spoken in secondary school! French is also the main language used at work as well as in official communication, advertising, road signs, and legal matters. However parliamentary debates take place in Luxembourgish while administrative documents are written in German or French. Most people also master English!
M
Malta
Malta is the smallest, 313 km², and least populated, 542,000 inhabitants, country of the European Union. It is composed of one archipelago and two main islands (Malta and Gozo), a smaller one (Comino) and a few other smaller islands. It is located at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, in the south of Sicily. Under British dominion from 1800, the country regained its independence in 1964 and tightened its links with Europe by joining the European Union then the Schengen area and at last the euro zone.
Capital city: Valletta
EU member? Yes, since May 1st 2004.
Schengen country? Yes, since December 21st 2007.
Schengen visa required? Yes, third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Malta.
Part of the euro zone? Yes, since January 1st 2008.
Did you know? The Order of Malta, originally the monastic Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, was founded during the First Crusade to provide care for pilgrims and to protect the Eastern Christians from Muslim attacks. In 1530, Charles V placed the Maltese archipelago under the protection of the Order, making it an outpost of Western defence against the Ottoman charges which were pushed back, sometimes after long sieges. Jean La Valette and the Order famously fought off one of these attacks in 1565.
This two-century presence, interrupted by Napoleonic conquests in 1798, left a strong long-lasting mark on the country, including the name of its capital city and its flag.
Malta is also one of the safest European destinations and is considered the most welcoming and LGBTQI+ friendly.
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The Schengen Area
Signed on June 14th 1985, the Schengen Agreement marked the birth of the 4 million km2 Schengen area. This agreement allows the free movement of people between different European countries and territories. Its two main characteristics are the absence of interior border control and one common exterior border. The different Schengen countries have standardised the conditions allowing third-country nationals to cross this common border.
420 million people live in the Schengen area. In 2024, 27 countries were full members and 2 only partial members.
• 23 European Union countries : Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
4 non EU countries are part of the Schengen area: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Bulgaria and Romania enjoy a hybrid status allowing free movement for air and maritime border crossing but not land border crossing.
4 European microstates are not part of the Schengen area but still apply its rules: Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican.
2 EU countries are not part of the Schengen area: Cyprus and Ireland.
All citizens and legal residents of a member state can move freely (without border control) throughout the Schengen area, live and work there without any specific requirement. Third country nationals with a Schengen visa enjoy the same freedom, during 90 days over a 180 day period. The same applies to citizens of countries which have visa waiver agreement with European Union countries.
All Schengen countries deliver a standardised Schengen visa: the criteria are the same whatever the country of application and the delivered visas hold the same value.
3.5 million people cross the inner borders of the Schengen area freely every day.
Let’s find out which European countries are not part of the Schengen area !
Spain
With its 502.654 km² surface area and over 48 million inhabitants, Spain is one of the biggest countries of the European Union. Because of Franco’s dictatorship from 1936 to 1975, it remained one of Europe’s poorest countries for a long time. Thanks to a spectacular recovery during the last four decades, it has become one of the most socially advanced countries, often a source of inspiration for its neighbours.
Capital city: Madrid
EU member? Yes, since January 1st 1986.
Schengen country? Yes, since March 26 1995.
Schengen visa required? Yes. Third-country nationals subject to visa requirement need a Schengen visa to travel to Spain.
Part of the eurozone? Yes, since January 1st 1999.
Did you know? Tomatoes, potatoes, avocadoes, tobacco and cocoa were all introduced in Europe through the Spanish colonies established on the American continent.
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Travel insurance Certificate
When subscribing to an insurance policy, you must ask for an insurance certificate. It is generally required from a third party to make sure you are properly covered against certain risks.
For example, tenants must provide a home insurance certificate to their landlord every year, proving they have subscribed to adequate insurance for their home.
When applying for a short stay visa to enter and stay (for less than three months) in one of the Schengen countries, it is mandatory to subscribe to travel insurance. It must cover your emergency medical and repatriation expenses up to minimum € 30,000, be valid during the entire duration of your stay and in the entire Schengen area. It must also be accepted by the consulates of all member countries delivering visas.
Once you’ve subscribed, the insurance company will deliver a travel insurance certificate which is one of the documents you must enclose with your visa application.
It must mention:
- Your first and last names, identical to those featured on your passport;
- The contact information of your insurance company and your contract number;
- The start and end dates of your contract;
- The contract guarantees and expense coverage.
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Visa Travel Insurance
The conditions and requirements for Schengen Visa Travel Insurance are set by the European Union Visa code. Travel insurance is mandatory for all travellers applying for a short-stay visa (maximum 90 days over a 180 day period) also known as a Schengen visa. No visa will be delivered if the applicant hasn’t subscribed to travel insurance.
Article 15 of the Schengen Visa Code specifies the criteria which need to be met by the mandatory travel insurance:
- It must cover all emergency medical care, hospitalisation and death
- It must cover the costs of medical repatriation
- The minimum expense coverage must be €30,000
- It must be valid for the entire duration of the stay
- It must be valid in all 27 Schengen states When subscribing to travel insurance, make sure all these requirements are met.
Good to know: The 3 options available with AXA Schengen travel insurance meet all the criteria and are certified by all consular authorities.