EU-Kosovo Visa Liberalisation Agreement to Be Signed on Wednesday in Strasbourg
In a statement, the European Parliament has revealed that on April 19, the act would be signed into law in Strasbourg by Roberta Metsola, European Parliament President, as well as the Swedish Presidency of the Council, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
It also confirms that the signing will also be followed by a press conference in which will participate the Rapporteur, Thijs Reuten, as well as Besnik Bislimi, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, in Parliament’s Daphne Caruana Galizia Pressroom.
“Citizens of Kosovo will be permitted to travel to the EU –and EU citizens to go to Kosovo- without requesting a visa, for periods of up to 90 days in any 180 days. After the law has entered into force, the entire Western Balkans region will have a similar visa framework for the Schengen area,” the statement revealed.
Thijs Reuten from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament said that following years in the waiting room, Kosovo is now the last Western Balkan country to join the visa-free regime.
He added that the recent decision finally permits Kosovo citizens to easily travel, visit their relatives and also do business in the European Union, and more than that, it is an essential foundation for the future and ever-closer cooperation between authorities in the EU and Kosovo.
The European Union Office in Kosovo also welcomed the approval of the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo.
“Great news for Kosovo and the EU! Congratulations to all,” it noted in a statement.
The decision to finally abolish the visa requirements for holders of Kosovo’s passport has also been welcomed by the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, while she gave credits to citizens of Kosovo as well.
“Today’s final decision on the liberalisation of visas for the citizens of Kosovo is a victory, not only for our country but for democracy itself and unity in Europe. This decision is the merit of the people of Kosovo, the unparalleled determination shown throughout the years, despite various delays and injustices,” Osmani said.
The liberalisation process for Kosovo began for over ten years now. The European Commission in 2018 estimated that the country met all the needed requirements so the process could be finished; still, at present, citizens of Kosovo can visit only 15 countries without being required to apply for a visa at first, based on the VisaGuide.World Passport Index.
