(4)On 12 October 2017, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2017/1908note putting into effect certain provisions of the Schengen acquis relating to the Visa Information System (‘VIS’) in Bulgaria and Romania, without prejudice to the separate decision of the Council to be adopted by unanimity in accordance with Article 4(2) of the 2005 Act of Accession as regards the lifting of checks at internal borders of the Member States concerned. The putting into effect of those provisions which authorises Bulgaria and Romania to access the VIS data for consultation purposes and in accordance with the procedures and conditions specified in that Decision is aiming at facilitating checks by Bulgaria and Romania at border crossing points at their external borders, which are Schengen external borders, and within their territory, thereby increasing the level of security in the Schengen area and facilitating the fight against serious crime and terrorism.