Introduction

The Schengen Bridge is a four-lane span across the picturesque Moselle River valley that carries traffic from Germany, on the eastern bank of the river, to Luxembourg, on the western side. Once in Luxembourg, cars proceed down a long, winding offramp flanked by vineyards. Heading south a kilometer or so from this point, drivers reach the Luxembourg town of Schengen, a community of about 1,500 people located on the western bank of the Moselle. Just across the river, known as the Mosel in German, is the town of Perl in the German state of the Saarland. A bit south lies Apach, in the French province of Lorraine. In June 1985, representatives from France, Germany and the Benelux countries convened here aboard a boat and signed the first of what became known as the Schengen Agreements. These agreements provided for free passage between core European Union (EU) states, leading to the elimination of border controls.