Accession to the Schengen area has as effect the lifting of controls between internal borders of Schengen Member States, which are fully applying the Schengen acquis, being created a single external border where checks are carried out according to a set of clear rules in the field of visas, migration, asylum, also measures related to police, judicial and customs cooperation

	Lifting of controls between internal borders of Schengen Member States

Thus, border crossing can be realised at any time and at any place. Citizens of Member States who travel in Schengen area must have a valid identity document. Crossing of internal borders is similar to travelling within the same country.

Controls at Schengen internal borders can be introduced for a limited period of time on reasons of public order or national security, decision that is taken at the level of every Schengen Member State.

	Freedom of movement for citizens of Member States represents a benefit brought by accession to the Schengen area, without being understood in an absolute way

After abolition of border controls, threats to internal security of countries involved increased.
Thus, a cross border cooperation, especially by setting up common services of police, customs and border police (within Common Contact Centres, Bureaux, Points) for all Contracting Parties, which have to protect their own citizens must be developed. Also, the Schengen Information System, mutual operative assistance and direct information exchange between police forces, cross border surveillance and pursuit of criminals, represent means of counter-fighting terrorism, organised crime, trafficking in human beings and illegal immigration. At the same time, a set of uniform rules in order to ensure to citizens of Member States the protection of personal data against any infringements of fundamental rights was adopted.  

	A set of measures in order to compensate the negative impact of abolition of controls at internal borders was introduced