These are the states blocking visa liberalisation

The Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, are some of the states, which, according to analysts, are reluctant to give positive approval for abolishing visas for Kosovo.

The increased mood against visa removal in these countries had recently prompted Kosovo institutions to undertake lobbying activities in an effort to secure support for Kosovo.

Taulant Kryeziu from the Kosovo Institute for European Policy (EPIK) tells Radio Free Europe that the readiness of EU states to push ahead visa liberalisation for Kosovo is not going up, but fading.

“In the recent vote for visa liberalisation for Kosovo is seen hesitation from Germany, France and the Netherlands, but this number of states has now exceeded to 10 or 12 states. If there are hesitations from these three states, the obstacle is obvious because small countries cannot be blocked in this process, mainly I am talking about non-recognitional countries of Kosovo's independence, they do not have the blocking power”, Kryeziu points out.

He stresses that without a consensus of these major states, it is a problem to postpone the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo, however, he adds that authorities in Kosovo are the ones that can facilitate decision-making for European Union countries.

“The best play can be done in European Union member states is if we manage to advance our European agenda within Kosovo and have a driving permit to help and enable member states to complete political decision making within two legislative troops; Parliament and Council”, Kryeziu says.

Kosovo Assembly Chairman Kadri Veselini, but also deputies from the ruling and opposition parties, have recently been frequenting trips to European Union countries, as it has been said, to lobby for visa liberalisation.

Intensive play to ensure visa liberalisation this year

Emrush Ujkan, professor of European Law, tells Radio Free Europe that institutions have had to work a little bit more on lobbi, as it has been known that opinion is not very good by some EU member states.

He adds that since July, maximum efforts have been made to reach these countries (France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium) and change their position.

I think there's recently been an intensifying, I'd say in the last two to three weeks, but I personally think it had to be a little bit more, not just in terms of lobeing on these countries, but it had to have a better internal political climate, so that obviously there wouldn't be a phenomenon of negative character, especially those that affect the rule of law, that we are witnesses of some recent days or weeks”, Ukjani says.

Authorities in Pristina have declared that by the end of this year, they expect European Union member states to make a positive decision regarding the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo citizens. But officials from the European Union are constantly demanding that no liberalisation date be provided.

Professor Emrush Ujkan points out that in a procedural way time has not left, but there is a dose of hesitation in content.
He adds that if it is observed that there is a reluctance to give green light to such a decision-making, then they do not send it to decision making, because as Ujani points out it is not a good signal not only for the EU, but also for Kosovo citizens.

I think the possibilities are still because of course I know the Council will have its own meeting, regular meetings. Then it will be the Day of Judgement. I still don't think there's any possibility, but to get to it there must be some preparation that I don't think has been done enough, says Wojan.

Following the positive recommendation for visa liberalisation by the European Commission in July this year and the vote in favour of liberalisation by the European Parliament in September, the main challenge in this process for Kosovo remains in the Council of Ministers, where interior ministers of EU member states give their assessments.