THE AMSTERDAM-TREATY AND SCHENGEN - ONE-S TEP TOWARDS THE INTERNAL MARKET

The aim of this article is to discuss the consequences of the Amsterda m Treaty as regards the co-operation injustice and home affairs in the European Union (EU). In Amsterdam in June 1997 the member states deci ded to integrate the Schengen co-operation in the EU treaty. They also agreed to introduce supranational co-operation in the areas of asylum , immigration and border controls within five years. The co-operation in the fields of justice and home affairs was integrated in the Union for the first time in the Maastricht Treaty in 1991. With the exceptio n of visa policies, the co-operation has been strictly intergovernment al, and further progress has proved difficult. Therefore, the Amsterda m Treaty represents a major step towards the planned abolishment of th e internal border controls, and thus the realisation of the Internal M arket project. The Amsterdam Treaty is also of great interest for Norw ay and Iceland. While not being members of the Union, these countries have joined the Schengen group as observers. An integration of the Sch engen co-operation in the EU therefore requires new negotiations.