External border of the European Union
The border of the European Union consists of the land borders that member states of the EU share with non-EU states adjacent to the union. The EU shares land borders with 21 countries and 3 dependencies.
List
The lengths of the borders the European Union and the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)[lower-alpha 1] share with different countries and territories are listed below. Maritime borders are not included.
Countries and dependencies bordering the EU
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Countries and dependencies bordering Overseas Countries and Territories
| Country / Dependency | Length | OCTs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada | 1,280 m (4,200 ft) | Greenland (Kingdom of Denmark) | Located in Hans island |
| File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australian Antarctic Territory (Australia) | N/A | French Southern and Antarctic Lands (France) | Located in Antarctica. Most countries do not recognize Antarctic territorial claims |
| File:Flag of the British Antarctic Territory.svg British Antarctic Territory (U.K.) | |||
| File:Flag of Norway.svg Queen Maud Land (Norway) | |||
| File:Flag of New Zealand.svg Ross Dependency (New Zealand) | |||
| File:Bandera de la Provincia de Tierra del Fuego.svg Argentine Antarctica (Argentina) | |||
| File:Flag of Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena, Chile.svg Chilean Antarctic Territory (Chile) |
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Disputed territory
The northern part of Cyprus is legally part of the EU, but law is suspended due to it being under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a self-proclaimed de facto state which is recognized only by Turkey. The two entities are separated by the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus, which serves as a de facto boundary between them.
Border status and cooperation
In 2004 the European Union developed the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) for the promotion of cooperation between the EU and its neighbours to the east and south of the European territory of the EU (i.e., excluding its outermost regions outside of Europe),[2] which, in part, includes the Cross-Border Cooperation programme aimed at the promotion of economic development in border areas and ensuring border security.[3]
External border control
The Border and Coast Guard Agency, more commonly known as Frontex, was established in 2004. Its main task is external border control of the Schengen Area. Most of its activities are coordinated with the coast and border guards of member states.
See also
References
- ↑ The Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) are not part of the EU but they are associated with it. They depend to varying degrees on the Member States which have sovereignity over them.
- ↑ Unlike the French side of the island, Sint Maarten is not part of the EU. It is among the Overseas Countries and Territories of the EU.
- ↑ The Channel Tunnel links the two countries underground and is defined as a 'land frontier', but it is not widely recognised as a land border.
External links
- Grigore Silaşi, Ovidiu Laurian Simina (eds.), Migration, Mobility and Human Rights at the Eastern Border of the European Union: Space of Freedom and Security, 2008, Editura Universităţii de Vest, ISBN 978-973-125-160-8
- ↑ The World Factbook
- ↑ What is the European Neighbourhood Policy?
- ↑ "The new European Neighbourhood Instrument: providing increased support to the EU's partners". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-03-14.