site.btaDecision on Accession of Bulgaria, Romania to Schengen by Air and Water Published in EU's Official Journal

The Council of the European Union's December 30 decision on the admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area by air and water with effect from 31 March this year was published Thursday in the Official Journal of the European Union. It thus officially entered into force.

The decision states that "it is appropriate, for technical and operational reasons, to lift first the checks at internal air and sea borders as soon as possible in 2024." Those checks should be lifted on the first possible date corresponding to the seasonal change of the International Air Transport Association schedule.

"From 31 March 2024, checks on persons at internal air and sea borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania shall be lifted and the provisions of the Schengen acquis referred to in the Annex shall apply to Bulgaria and Romania between themselves and in their relations with the Kingdom of Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Republic of Croatia, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden, as well as Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway and the Swiss Confederation," Article 1 of the adopted decision reads.

"The Council shall endeavour to take a decision lifting checks on persons at internal land borders," it adds.

Article 2 notes that "national short-stay visas issued by Bulgaria and Romania before 31 March 2024 shall remain valid during their period of validity, for the purpose of transit through the territory of other Member States or intended stays on their territories not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period, in so far as they have recognized such short-stay visas for those purposes."