Speaking from the Ministry of Integration: Here is when Kosovars are expected to travel without visas to EU

If the Haradinaj government manages to ratify the demarcation agreement with Montenegro, then the process will be passed to the EU's internal Trialogum between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, which can begin after the Council approves their mandate, it is said in a response to the Ministry of Integration.

Meanwhile, officials of this ministry have reiterated that there are no visa liberalisations for Kosovo citizens as long as the government does not ratify the demarcation agreement with Montenegro, as well as a range of issues in terms of fighting corruption.

“Many times it has been made clear even by EU officials, and has even been re-encumbered by Director General for Enlargement and Economic Policy Christian Danielsson that Fighting Organised Crime and Corruption, as well as ratification of the Agreement on Marking the Border Line with Montenegro, remain the last conditions, without the fulfillment of which Kosovo cannot ensure visa liberalisation of”, said in response to the Ministry of Integrity.

As for the ongoing procedure on the part of the EU, the European Commission is the institution that should set the decision-making process in motion by declaring that Kosovo has fulfilled the two criteria they consider to be remaining.

The decision then passes to the European Parliament (PE) and the Council of the European Union. Next steps are the opening of interinstitution exchange ( EC, EP and Council) through “Trilog”, which can begin after the Council approves their mandate.

Following the approval of the mandate for Trialog and the conclusion of negotiations in Trialog, the final approval of the recommendation for visa liberalisation is voted on in the Justice and Home Affairs Council and in one of the EP plenaries.

While Kosovo is key to implementing reforms for the path towards European integration, with particular emphasis on reforms in the field of order, law and judiciary.

“The Minister of Integration has convened the Ministerial Council for European Integration since the beginning of the mandate, meetings of this Council have not been held since 2013. This shows MIE's commitment to wintering the process by co-ordinating with all relevant institutions to meet the criteria required for visa liberalisation and the integration process in general. The ministry of integration will play an active role and will ensure that all institutions are aware of their obligations and work to meet them”, said the Ministry of Integrity's response. /Indesksonline/