The EU published Council Decision 2024/210 of December 30, 2023 regarding the full implementation of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, reported BGNES.
This means that it officially goes into effect.
"From March 31, 2024, checks on persons at the internal air and sea borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania shall be abolished and the provisions of the Schengen acquis set out in the Annex shall apply to Bulgaria and Romania in their relations with each other and in the relations with the Kingdom of Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Greece, 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 with Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway and the Swiss Confederation," the EU decision reads.
It also states that the Council is "making efforts to decide on the abolition of checks on persons at internal land borders", recalling that such a decision is taken unanimously.
"National short-term residence visas issued by Bulgaria and Romania before March 31, 2024, remain valid during their period of validity for the purposes of transit through the territory of other member states or a planned stay on their territory that does not exceed 90 days within each 180-day period, insofar as they have recognized these short-stay visas for these purposes in accordance with Decision No. 565/2014/EU. The conditions set out in the said decision shall apply,” the document said.
"This decision enters into force from the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union"./BGNES
