At the end of a gradual process of adaptation to the common visa policy laid down in the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement, Italy entered the Schengen system on October 26, 1997.
The strengthening of the common external border was therefore followed by the parallel and gradual abolition of internal border controls. Hence the so-called Schengen Area was achieved with full freedom of movement throughout the countries of all the signatories to the Schengen Agreement.