The Schengen countries have abolished passport/national ID card checks for travel between them. The UK does retain border controls for intra-EU travel (except to/from Ireland). Ireland is also a non-Schengen country, mainly because to join would require introduction of border controls for travel to/from the UK (including Northern Ireland). That would be a pain, especially for people who commute across the land border. If the UK does introduce national ID cards, as proposed, then the Irish position may change. The UK was not a founder member of the EU. Antoin Daltun ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alireza Alivandivafa" <DEmocrat2n@xxxxxxx> To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: 09 January 2005 08:02 Subject: Re: Questions about this picture > In a message dated 1/7/2005 3:18:36 AM Central Standard Time, > atg3v@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: > departure lounge on the upper > level for London (non-Schengen > > > I thought the UK, as a founding EU member, was a Schengen country. I know > they have EU passport lines seperated from the other passports >