“Criteria first, accession next”

First of all, it clarifies the parliament’s position about the possibility of suspending the visa free travel.

“With the visa liberalization we established an observation mechanism for the evaluation and effective implementation of all measures and reforms taken for the visa dialogue. I cannot talk this early about the discussions that will be held regarding this issue. What I can say is that for the European Parliament, the visa lifting for the Western Balkan citizens is one of the most tangible priorities and a clear encouragement to push forward the justice and rule of law reforms”, Schulz declared.

The European MP thinks that the more should have been done for avoiding abuses with the visa liberalization.

“There’s still too much to be done to end the abuses. More efforts are needed for finding the traffickers, such as travel agencies and transport enterprises, and the inspections in border. But even more success would promise the information and awareness campaigns in these countries”, Schulz declared.

The high rank European official spoke on the membership perspective of Albania, Macedonia and Serbia.

“The reports of the Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule, were positive about Albania, Macedonia and Serbia. In this moment it is not good speculating about the time when the accession will be realized. The above mentioned countries have the European perspective, but to become an EU member you must fulfil all criteria, which are the democratic rule and the rule of law, the respect of human and civil rights, the respect and protection of minorities, a functional market economy and the acceptation and implementation of the entire EU legal framework. Without these there can be no membership”, Schulz declared.

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