What you need to know when traveling in the EU

When we travel by car, we need to carry:
- Identity card or passport
- A valid driving license
- Insurance against civil liability.

There are several limitations that monitor very closely:
- Use of seat belts is mandatory
- Small children should be in special seats
- The use of mobile phone while driving is prohibited.

When we travel by plane:
- You need an identity card or passport
- When going through border control to passengers off jackets and coats for verification
- Electronic devices (phones, laptops, radios, cameras, etc..) Subject to more rigorous examination and must be removed from cabin baggage
- The amount of hand luggage must not exceed 56 × 45×25 cm, as a large plastic shopping bag.

For its content were introduced and additional stricter rules last month (Stoicho: November 2006). In border control can not carry liquids, gels, perfumes, alcohol, etc.. except medicines and baby food, placed in separate dispensing bottles of 100 ml each, purchased from liquid freeshops must be enclosed in transparent plastic bags.

How will you travel in neighboring countries?

Control of Greece and Romania will be removed from January 1, 2007 and travel between the three countries will have a border check, although they will be now the EU. To go to Romania in the Danube bridge, will not stop at two points, as usual, only one border crossing, which is in Giurgiu. The documents will be processed in one-stop shops. Border control is now maintained as a border with Turkey, Macedonia and Serbia, which will be outside the EU and should be very strictly protected by the Bulgarian side to Sofia may prove that it meets the required standards and can be accepted Schengen. From January 1 and will introduce visas for these countries, is not yet clear whether they will respond with reciprocal measures.

What is Schengen?
In 1985 the town in Schengen (Luxembourg) concluded inter agreement which provides for gradual abolition of checks at internal borders of the countries - EU member states. The Schengen Treaty shall enter into force ten years later, after installation of the SIS or SIS II, as is commonly known. It aims to facilitate the fight against transnational crime. Initially, the agreement provides for the complete abolition of border controls between Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. Subsequently acceded to the contract and other countries - EU member states. Exceptions are Great Britain and Ireland who do not belong to Schengen area and carry out its own control. Norway and Iceland are not EU members but participate in the agreement.