Schengen visa regime lifted for Kosovo

04/05/2016 00:00

The European Commission proposed to the Council of Europe and European
Parliament to lift the visa regime for Kosovo citizens who want to
travel to the Schengen area. The proposition was made together with a
positive report of the Commission, which confirms that Kosovo has
fulfilled the criteria for the visa liberalization.

The news was given first by the Minister of European Integration in Kosovo, Bekim Collaku, who confirmed the recommendation through a declaration on Facebook.

The EU Commissioner for Migration, Internal Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said in Brussels that the Commission proposes visa free travel in the EU for the Kosovo citizens who own biometric passports. Avramopoulos said he will visit Prishtina this Thursday. A solemn session will be held at the Kosovo Parliament.

Today’s progress report of the Commission confirmed that Kosovo has fulfilled all criteria for the visa liberalization, which means that Kosovo will have ratified the agreement for the border with Montenegro and will have reinforced the fight against organized crime and corruption.

The EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, congratulated the Kosovo citizens and said this is how the reforms are rewarded.

Kosovo Prime Minister Mustafa said in a press release in Prishtina that the decision was based on merit.

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, congratulated Kosovo for this achievement which arrived just after the other good news about the UEFA accession.

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