Is canary islands part of the eu: EU policy for the EU outermost regions – Regional Policy

Опубликовано: January 10, 2023 в 5:48 pm

Автор: alexxlab

Категории: Miscellaneous

Schengen Countries: What Are They?

The Schengen Agreement is a treaty which led to the creation of Europe’s Schengen Area, in which internal border checks have largely been abolished. It was signed on 14 June 1985 by five of the ten member states of the then European Economic Community and enacted a decade later, with all countries in the European Union (EU), except the U.K. and Ireland, joining over the coming years. Countries in Europe but outside the EU have also joined, including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. Britain has subsequently left the EU – meaning it is extremely unlikely to join Schengen in the foreseeable future.

Why is it called the ‘Schengen’ Area?
The name Schengen comes from the town in southeastern Luxembourg where France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed the original Schengen Agreement in 1985.

What does it mean if I want to travel to Europe?

The agreement has abolished border checks at the signatories’ common borders within the area, allowing individuals to travel freely within it. It gives residents in border areas the freedom to cross borders away from fixed checkpoints and has harmonized visa policies, meaning that for short stays of under 90 days, you can get a Schengen Visa. Under the Schengen Agreement, traveling from one country to another within the Schengen Area is done without border controls. In fact, the Schengen Visa makes it possible to visit all the countries in the Schengen Area and to cross internal borders without further formalities.

Please be aware that the European Union and the Schengen Area are two different zones. The list below will enable you to see the difference and check that the countries where you are planning to stay are all in the Schengen Area.

What European countries are not part of the Schengen Zone?

Although 26 countries are inside the Schengen Zone, including most nations in mainland Europe – not every European state is inside the area where border checks have been abolished. Find out the list of non-Schengen countries.

Do I always need a visa to travel to the Schengen Area?

Some countries have reciprocal visa-free travel arrangements with the Schengen states – including the U.K. and America. From the end of 2022, those traveling from these countries will need to apply for ETIAS authorization – an electronic document that allows for streamlined background checks and the collection of biometric information.

Was the U.K. ever in the Schengen Area?

The United Kingdom was never a member of the Schengen Agreement, as it secured an opt-out that other countries did not. Similarly, while Ireland is in the EU it is not in Schengen.
Before Brexit, the U.K. was subject to European Union law and Europeans had a right to live and work in the U.K. – and vice versa. Little has changed for those outside the EU as they were subject to these laws before Brexit – and so they have to apply for a short or long stay visa accordingly to the relevant authorities.

Are the Canary Islands and other Europe’s overseas territories part of the Schengen Area?

The Schengen Area includes the Atlantic islands belonging to Spain and Portugal, such as the Canaries (Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa) and Madeira. However, most overseas regions and territories are not part of the Schengen Area. For example, French Guiana, Martinique (France), Reunion (France), Guadeloupe (France), Curaçao (Netherlands), and Greenland (Denmark) are not a part of the common travel area, and may not be within the EU.

How can AXA help?

AXA offers several insurance policies for travel in Europe, from a low-cost option, priced at as little as €20 ($22) per week of your trip, that will meet the Schengen Visa requirements, to multi-trip insurance that will cover you for ongoing visits. None of these policies will require you to pay an excess fee on medical costs.

Those seeking a multiple-entry visa can purchase the Multi Trip insurance from €298 per year, which again covers you for expenses up to €100,000.

Additionally, AXA Schengen insurance covers, depending on the policy subscribed, the U.K. and the non-Schengen countries of the European Union, like Ireland, Romania, or Bulgaria.

Related topics on the Schengen visa

How to apply for a Schengen visa?

Who needs a Schengen visa?

Frequently asked questions about the Schengen Area

Canary Islands, Ceuta & Melilla: Spanish special tax territories

18th January 2021

In the 19th Century the Spanish government made the Canary Islands a free trade zone to promote economic development. When Spain joined the EU in 1986, special fiscal measures were deemed incompatible with European legislation. For this reason the Canary Islands’ Parliament decided to stay out of the European VAT area.

Similarly, Ceuta and Melilla do not have VAT but the Production, Services and Import tax (IPSI).Ceuta and Melilla are not part of the customs territory of the EU and have two separate autonomous statutes approved respectively by article 144.b of Spanish Organic Laws 1/1995 and 2/1995 of March 13.

We will try to give an overview of the tax regime applicable in these three special territories within Spain: the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.

VAT

These areas are excluded from the application of VAT and are considered third territories when it comes to VAT.

The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are part of the European Customs Union, although they are excluded from the application of VAT.

Though no VAT is levied, there are two special taxes in the islands:

· The Canary Islands apply a tax equivalent to VAT: the IGIC (Impuesto General Indirecto Canario or General Indirect Tax of the Canary Islands), which is charged for the supply of goods and services in the Canary Islands by traders and professionals, as well as for imports of goods into the islands.

The standard rate is 7%. There are also higher rates for goods with external costs, such as automobiles or alcoholic beverages (9.5% and 13.5%).

· The AIEM (Arbitrio sobre las Importaciones y Entregas de Bienes or Tax on Imports and Deliveries of Goods in the Canary Islands) is levied on imports of certain types of goods that are produced in the islands. It aims to protect some local manufacturing sectors by charging some imports with rates of 0%, 5% or 15%.

Ceuta and Melilla

These two territories are excluded from the application of VAT and, moreover, they are not part of the European Customs Union. They levy an indirect tax called IPSI (Impuesto sobre la Producción, los Servicios y la Importación or Tax on Production, Services and Imports). The standard rate usually ranges from 0.5% to 10%. The applicable rate for yacht imports is 10%.

How are sales of goods to these territories dealt with?

1) Sales to the Canary Islands, Ceuta or Melilla in which delivery takes place in these territories will be invoiced without VAT and documented with the corresponding SAD (Single Administrative Document).

2) Sale to an individual or company without direct shipment to the customer’s address in the Canary Islands, Ceuta or Melilla would be subject to VAT.

Special tax on certain means of transports (matriculation tax)

The Spanish matriculation tax (Special Tax on Certain Means of Transport), which applies on the first definitive registration of yachts under Spanish flag or their use within the Spanish territory by Spanish residents or holders of establishments in Spain, is usually levied at a 12% rate. However, the applicable rate in the Canary Islands is 11%.

Ceuta and Melilla are subject to the tax but their applicable rate is 0%, so in practical terms the tax is not applicable there.

The tax particularities of these jurisdictions have consequences in many aspects: changes of residence from the customs territory to these destinations, relocation of business, use of the Spanish off-shore ships registry, etc., making these jurisdictions very interesting destinations for tax planning purposes.

EU countries: full list 2022

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In 2022, there are 195 sovereign states in the world. To ensure interaction between countries, the world community creates international organizations and associations – the UN, WHO, NATO and others. One of the largest interstate associations is the European Union with a population of 446.8 million people. We tell you how and why the EU was formed, which bodies are responsible for managing the organization and how many countries are in the EU in 2022.

Content:

The European Union – what is it and for what purpose was it created?
European Union on the world map
List of countries that are members of the EU
EU candidate countries
Who has the right to join the European Union?
Countries that are part of the Schengen area
EU authorities

The European Union – what is it and for what purpose was it created?

The European Union (EU, European Union) is an association of European states in the political and economic spheres, the goals and objectives of which are:

promote the peace and well-being of citizens;
provide freedom, security and justice;
create an internal market without borders;
achieve sustainable development, which is based on economic growth and price stability in a market economy;
protect and improve the quality of the environment;
promote scientific and technological progress and others.

To achieve these goals, the EU countries have created a legislative framework, a common market and introduced a single currency – the euro. Passport control has been canceled at the borders of countries that are part of the Schengen zone – workers, goods and capital move freely between states.

The official date of the creation of the European Union is November 1, 1993 years old However, the association arose in 1951, when six countries formed the European Coal and Steel Community. The first members of the union were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The members of the organization set themselves the task of eliminating economic contradictions by combining coal and steel resources. As a result, it was planned to eliminate interstate conflicts that led to wars.

In 1958, the organization was renamed the European Economic Community, creating a single market. The name lasted until 1993 years old, and then was renamed the European Union.

European Union on the world map

The territory of the European Union is located in the European part of Eurasia. Together with some countries, territories located outside the mainland joined the EU. When Portugal joined the European Union, the Azores and Madeira joined with it; the Canary Islands joined with Spain; with France – Reunion, Saint-Martin, French Guiana and others.

Yandex MapsYandex Maps — transport, navigation, search for places

List of countries that are members of the EU

How many countries were part of the European Union changed over time – some countries joined the EU, others left. In 2022, the European Union includes 27 countries, a list of which is presented in the table.

Participating country	Entry date
Belgium	1958
France
Germany
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Denmark	1973
Ireland	1973
Greece	1981
Portugal	1986
Spain	1986
Austria	1995
Finland
Sweden
Cyprus	2004
Hungary
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Malta
Poland
Czech
Bulgaria	2007
Romania	2007
Croatia	year 2013

NOTE! In 2020, the UK left the European Union, which has been a member since 1973. Until December 24, 2020, the EU and Britain were negotiating and discussing new rules for cooperation and trade. The result of the negotiations is the signing of the TCA free trade agreement.

EU candidate countries

The state that has decided to join the European Union signs the Association Agreement. The document serves as a preparatory stage for obtaining the status of a candidate. The European Commission checks whether the country is ready to join the EU and meets the criteria. If the test is successful, the state becomes a candidate.

The European Union sets conditions after which the country will be able to join the organization. The conditions affect all areas – politics, transport, economics, energy, etc.

Answering the question which countries are not members of the European Union, but have applied for membership, seven states can be named – some became candidates at the end of the last century, the applications of others were accepted in 2022.

Candidate Country	Application date
Turkey	1987
North Macedonia	2004
Montenegro	2008
Albania	year 2009
Serbia	year 2009
Ukraine	2022
Moldova	2022

INTERESTING! Switzerland, Iceland and Norway applied for EU membership, but then withdrew their candidacies.

Who has the right to join the European Union?

In 1993, a meeting of the members of the European Union was held in Copenhagen, at which the participants developed rules for the admission of new states – the Copenhagen Criteria. To become a member of the European Union, a country must meet the following criteria:

the state is based on democratic principles;
the state supports human freedoms and rights, provides freedom of speech and equality before the law;
the country ensures the stable development of state and public institutions;
national minorities are protected;
a market economy is developing, the state has a stable financial position;
the rule of law is maintained;
the state respects the principles and laws of the European Union.

NOTE! In addition to the Copenhagen criteria, potential member states of the European Union must meet geographic criteria – any country that belongs to the European civilization is eligible to join the EU.

Countries that are part of the Schengen area

In 1985, EU members signed the agreement in the city of Schengen, located in Luxembourg. Then restrictions on movement between countries were lifted and the Schengen area was formed. In 1985, the Schengen area included 5 countries, and in 2022 – 22 EU states and 4 non-EU countries.

Residents of these countries have the right to move between countries without restrictions. Citizens of other countries receive a Schengen visa. Schengen officially includes Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The agreement was not signed by Monaco, San Marino, Andorra and the Vatican, but there are no border controls on their borders, i.e. countries belong to the free movement zone.

Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania and Croatia are in the EU, but not in the Schengen area. The embassies of these countries will not issue a Schengen visa, but entry is allowed with a Schengen visa obtained in another country.

Read also: How to write citizenship in the questionnaire, what citizenship is and how to distinguish it from nationality, a sample of filling out the questionnaire.

EU authorities

The EU includes 76 institutions and bodies. Among them are banks, executive agencies, corporate structures. But three bodies of the European Union have the main powers:

The European Commission is the highest executive body. The membership includes one representative from an EU member. The task of the commission is lawmaking and control over the implementation of the rules of the organization. The body represents the European Union at meetings of the World Trade Organization. The head of the commission is the chairman, who is elected by the heads of state of the EU members and the European Parliament.
The European Parliament is the highest legislative body. The European Commission sends bills, and they pass the first reading in Parliament. The parliament has 705 deputies, who are citizens of the EU countries. The chairman is elected by deputies for a period of 2.5 years, the composition of deputies changes every 5 years.
The European Council is the highest political body that reviews bills in the second reading. The European Council is made up of state leaders. Their task is to determine the strategy for the development of the union and political integration.

PLEASE NOTE! The Council of Europe and the European Council are different organizations. The Council of Europe consists of a larger number of countries and protects democratic institutions, develops strategies for cultural and social interaction. Russia was excluded from the Council of Europe in March 2022.

An important body is the Court of Justice of the European Union, which resolves disputes within the EU. Consists of 27 judges who elect a chairman for a term of three years.

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Philip Globa

Real estate expert of the portal AllNews of Moscow. rf

Article published: October 13, 2022

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European Union and Schengen, which countries are included

The concepts of “European Union” and “Schengen” are similar and have a number of advantages for transport companies in terms of the absence of border controls and a simplified border crossing process. But the essence of such formations is different. If the EU is established as a political/economic entity,

Contents

Schengen Agreement and its development
The European Union and its difference from Schengen
Candidate states for Schengen and European Union
Special territories of the countries of the Schengen area
Video “EU, Schengen and Eurozone: what is the difference”

The Schengen area is an agreement on the virtual absence of borders for citizens and cargo carriers who can move around Europe without additional documents. Below we will consider what are the features of each association, and what it means for carriers.

Schengen Agreement and its development

With the increase in the volume of cargo transportation and the flow of tourists, European countries have thought about creating a special zone with special rules. So, on June 14, 1985, diplomats from different countries agreed and formalized the Schengen Agreement. Its essence implies the rejection of the creation of border zones between different states. Five countries acted as signatories to the agreement – Germany (at that time only the western part), France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.

June 19On the 90th, the creators signed an application convention, and the abolition of control between the first Schengen countries and a group of other states took place in March 1995. Spain and Portugal, included in the agreement in June 1991, were added to the group voiced above. The further process of abolishing border controls took place in several stages:

10.1997 – Italy.
12.1997 – Austria.
05.1999 – the inclusion of Schengen in the legislative framework of the European Union.
01.2000 – Greece.
03.2001 – Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland.
12.2007 – land and sea: Hungary, Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Malta, Lithuania, Slovakia, Latvia and Slovenia.
03. 2008 – airports for the countries mentioned above.
12.2008 and 03.2008 – Switzerland for land / airports, respectively.
12.2011 – Liechtenstein.

Important

For 2022, the list of the Schengen Agreement includes 26 states, and the territory of this zone exceeds 4.3 million square meters. km. The total population in the countries included in the treaty is over 400 million people.

The agreement does not include only four EU states, which undertake to enter this list in due course. We are talking about Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Croatia. But there are states that did not enter the European Union, but became Schengen countries. This applies to Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Almost all of the states mentioned above are geographically located in Europe. This does not apply to Malta and Iceland. There is also a group of states that, due to their location, do not have maritime borders and are part of the Schengen area. This means that they automatically become members of the treaty. We are talking about San Marino, Monaco, Andorra and a number of other dwarf states.

European Union and its difference from Schengen

To understand the difference, let’s first understand the essence of the Schengen Agreement, and what it gives to the signatory countries. The main task that was implemented was the rejection of border control, which is typical for states outside this zone. The innovation has simplified the life of cargo carriers who have received the right to cross borders without providing a large package of documents.

For trouble-free movement through the territory of the Schengen countries, you must be a citizen of one of these states. Otherwise, you may need a visa that allows you to move freely and not waste time on lengthy processing. It should be noted that in 2016, as well as in 2021, due to active migration and the coronavirus, additional conditions for crossing borders by cars and trucks appeared, respectively.

The EU is an association of a group of states in the field of politics and economics, created on 11/1/1993. The list of the European Union for 2022 includes 28 countries, and there are also a number of applicants who plan to replenish it in the near future. The signing of the agreement opened the way for simplified transportation of goods for all participating countries.

Within the EU, similar pricing principles apply, which change depending on the geographical location of the country. Vehicle weight limits, tolls, allowable CO2 emissions, etc. are also regulated under a single scheme. The above and other requirements apply to all members of the European Union, but the amount of payments may differ.

If we consider what the essence of the European Union is for ordinary citizens, we can single out two main advantages for citizens: the absence of restrictions on residence in the state where the residence permit is issued, as well as the possibility of living in any Schengen country for three months every six months.

Schengen and EU candidate states

The advantages of the Schengen area attract many states that would like to add to their list. Potential applicants include Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia and Cyprus. The European Parliament has repeatedly considered the applications of these states, but the time of entry was constantly postponed. The reasons are individual in each case. For example, Cyprus has unresolved territorial disputes with Turkey, while Romania and Bulgaria have many issues with crime and corruption.

There are also many who want to join the list of EU countries. For 2022, the list of candidates for EU membership includes six states. For example, back in 1987, an application was filed by Turkey, in 2004 by North Macedonia, in 2008 by Montenegro, in 2009 by Serbia and Albania, and in 2022 by Ukraine. In some countries, the accession negotiation process never started.

In fairness, it should be noted that not all countries have a desire to join the EU. For example, the UK decided to leave the European Union, and a number of states (Switzerland, Iceland and Norway) refused to join. The EU also does not include a number of dwarf states (Vatican, San Marino and others). As noted, these countries are included in the Schengen zone by default, so there are no difficulties with cargo transportation.

If a European country is not part of the EU or Schengen, this does not indicate a complication of the process of cargo transportation. For such states, there are other economic agreements that simplify the process of movement across the border and the volume of trade.

Special territories of the countries of the Schengen area

When considering the topic, it is worth mentioning the special territories of the states included in the list of Schengen countries. They include:

West Germany. After the collapse of the USSR, a separate part of Germany joined the Schengen zone, like the GDR. There is information on the Internet that the settlement of Büsigen on the Upper Rhine and the Helgoland archipelago are part of the Schengen. This is not entirely true. The mentioned city is included in the Schengen area, but is not yet included in the customs territory. As for the archipelago, it is not part of the tax / customs part of the European Union.
Greenland and the Faroe Islands are owned by Denmark, but are not part of the Schengen area and the European Union. This means that it will not be possible to enter their territory with a regular visa, and a national D-visa or a special type of document will be required.
Holy Mount Athos is a territory of Greece. Some of these territories are included in the EU and Schengen, but a regular visa is not enough to visit them. Men need to get the approval of Diamonitirion (issued in the form of a document). Women have no access.
Livigno and Campione d’Italia are special parts of Italy that are part of the Schengen area, but are not included in the single taxation area.
Ceuta, Melilla – Spanish territories available for visiting on a Schengen visa. An additional condition for entry is the provision of a passport.
The Canary Islands is an autonomous territory of Spain, part of the Schengen area. A passport is required to travel. In this territory, the rules of trade without additional duties apply.
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago that is not part of the Schengen area, which requires a local visa to visit. The rule does not apply to the member states of the Svalbard Treaty, including the Russian Federation.
Curacao, Sint Maarten and other territories of the Netherlands, which are remote from the country, are often not included in the EU and Schengen. To visit them, you need a national D-visa or a multiple-entry Schengen permit.

The above list can be supplemented by many other special territories. For example, the Azores and arch. Madeira (Portugal) is part of the EU and the Schengen area. The Åland Islands (Finland) are not included in the area under consideration, but are available for visiting without a visa or border control.