ea -
consisting of 13 EU member states that have signed the convention
implementing the Schengen agreements (1985 and 1990) on the free
movement of persons and the harmonization of border controls in
Europe; the Schengen agreements ("acquis") became incorporated into
EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam on 1
May 1999; member states are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, and Sweden; in addition, non-EU states Iceland and Norway (as
part of the Nordic Union) have been included in the Schengen area
since 1996 (full members in 2001), bringing the total current
membership to 15; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland (since 2002) take
part in some aspects of the Schengen area, especially with respect
to police and criminal matters; the 12 new member states that joined
the EU in 2004 and 2007 eventually are expected to participate in
Schengen, following a transition period to upgrade their border
controls and procedures

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Argentina, which claims the
islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in
1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK
continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks

Faroe Islands
because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources
have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full
independence have been deferred; Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands'
fisheries median line boundary; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute
Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends
beyond 200 nm

Fiji
none

Finland
various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia
and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish
Government asserts no territorial demands

France
Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India,
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros
claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial
dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of
French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica
(Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands,
east of New Caledonia

French Polynesia
none

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
French claim to "Adelie Land" in
Antarctica is not recognized by the US

Gabon
UN presses