Information from the Commission about notifications by the Member States of decisions concerning the application of Decision No 565/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council

2014/C 302/01

I.   Background

In accordance with Article 5 of Decision No 565/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014, introducing a simplified regime for the control of persons at the external borders based on the unilateral recognition by Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania of certain documents as equivalent to their national visas for transit through or intended stays on their territories not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period and repealing Decisions No 895/2006/EC and No 582/2008/EC, the Member States concerned had to notify the Commission by 20 July 2014 whether they decided to apply it.

Those notifications had, where relevant, to specify the third countries with regard to which Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania do not, in the absence of diplomatic relations, apply the Decision pursuant to Article 2(3) and Article 3(1).

II.   Information

The Commission has received the following notifications.

BULGARIA implements Decision No 565/2014/EU, and in accordance with Article 3 of the Decision recognises national visas and residence permits issued by Croatia, Cyprus and Romania listed, respectively, in Annex II, III and IV of the Decision, as equivalent to Bulgarian visas.

CROATIA implements Decision No 565/2014/EU, and in accordance with Article 3 of the Decision recognises national visas and residence permits issued by Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania listed, respectively, in Annex I, III and IV of the Decision, as equivalent to Croatian visas.

CYPRUS implements Decision No 565/2014/EU, and in accordance with Article 3 of the Decision recognises national visas and residence permits issued by Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania listed, respectively, in Annex I, II and IV of the Decision, as equivalent to Cypriot visas.

Pursuant to Article 2(3) and Article 3(1) of the Decision and in the absence of diplomatic relations, Cyprus will not apply this Decision with regard to visas and residence permits affixed to travel documents issued by Azerbaijan and Turkey.

ROMANIA implements Decision No 565/2014/EU, and in accordance with Article 3 of the Decision recognises national visas and residence permits issued by Bulgaria, Cyprus and Croatia listed, respectively, in Annex I, II and III of the Decision, as equivalent to Romanian visas.