The 1985 agreement and follow-up 1990 convention between Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands on removing common border controls. (See Freedom to travel: Schengen Convention)

In 1995, the Schengen Agreement came into force, which newly defined travel regulations within Europe. Part of the agreement is that passports are not required for travel within defined countries. Among these are: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Greece, Austria and some Scandinavian countries.