For visas, Kosovo doesn't even figure on EU Council of Ministers meeting agenda

European Integration Minister Gifted Hoxha, in an interview for Online Economy, said this tax cannot possibly affect visa non-liberalisation.

She said the EU has shown unfair and critical only to the state of Kosovo, but not to Serbia, even though this issue has been raised again there has been no reaction from Brussels as they reacted to Kosovo in taxing.

No, it's completely separate processes, even tax issues, even visa liberalisation. From the beginning of the process, there have been some countries that have been reluctant, are from major states that are reluctant yet to be, whether tax or without tax, it is not a related process at all, but we are not seeing what it is that the EU is loud when Kosovo makes its tax decision, while it has not been loud or critical of the Republic of Serbia when years since Kosovo's membership in CEFTA we have after uneven, unfair treatment. We have requested, we have sent letters, we have raised this issue to the EU, and we have never seen any official reaction from Brussels towards Serbia, while we, when we decide to protect our economy and our producer then see the response, should have a clarification of” positions, Hoxha told Online Economy.

“We have reacted all the time because there are various barriers that have been done to Kosovo goods, Kosovo products have been dealt with with by difficult standards”, she said.

Hoxha said some EU states are reluctant to have Kosovars removed their visas, because of their domestic policies, and that it must constantly be lobbied even though Kosovo has fulfilled all criteria.

The “is known to the public that are some of the countries that are reluctant, but their hesitations are not against Kosovo, but because of their internal political circumstances, lobbies have done well in these countries that we have received support, but it still needs to continue this lobbie, we still have to communicate with member states and explain to them that Kosovo will not misuse the process of liberalisation, and what is important is that it is known that Kosovo has completed its duties and that it has been confirmed many times by the EC, the LE, LEBEAC, LIOCHOCHO, Hoxha, said.

Hoxha said there is no official information yet, but on the agenda published for the meeting of the EU Council of Ministers for December 6th, Kosovo doesn't figure that the day is in order for the visa liberalisation issue, EO reports.

We haven't received official information that won't be or will be, but what we've seen is that the council's meeting agenda was published on December 6th is published and that it doesn't figure liberalisation or visa liberalisation point for the Republic of Kosovo. It is truly sad because we have finished our affairs and now it is up to the EU to carry out its part of the agreement. The agreement has been all the time, this process is technical as soon as the criteria are met, we will then liberalise visas for the citizens of Kosovo and now we are not noticing a lack of political will from member states to move forward, there is only the last step left, the other publication in the official newspaper, meeting the regulation all these are technical processes that, if there is political will in member states, could soon end”, she said.

Hoxha expressed regret over the lack of political will by EU states towards the free movement of Kosovo citizens.

She said there are other countries that with fewer criteria have free movement, while Kosovo is still pending.

We are now in the last few days, so it is really pointless to see this lack of will from the EU liberalising visas for Kosovo citizens. It is completely pointless to see that there are states which with fewer criteria enjoy free movement, while Kosovo with so many criteria and hard work we've done in recent years still not having or not being political will and is still treated with double standards”.

“We have completed our tasks, we must also be self-creatic, but not in the process of European integration. In general, we have to be self-critical, in reform, we have to have greater speed of reforms in many different sectors, including rule of law in this respect, but not on visa liberalisation, because the 95 criteria we've met, and there's no space to be puzzled about”.

Hoxha for Online Economy said this lack of political will from EU countries is the continuation of citizens' isolation and discrimination against Kosovars.

This lack of political will by member states recognise Kosovo's progress and enable the free movement of Kosovo citizens really is meaningless, unfair and clear we can also see as discrimination of Kosovo citizens and as a continuation of the isolation of Kosovo citizens. We call on EU countries as soon as they make the decision to free Kosovo citizens as soon as they can, Hoxha said.

She said the recent EU resolution reconfirms again that Kosovo has met all criteria imposed by the EU and that through this resolution it has been urged member states to vote in favour of lifting Kosovo's visas.

That resolution certainly was in most of the text. Supportive words are followed in the European integration process for the Republic of Kosovo. What is very important in this resolution has been called on for member states to have political will and vote on the Council of Ministers for visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens, this has been a very powerful message”.

This resolution matters because in that text it is the call given to 5 non-recognitional countries to recognise Kosovo. We have meetings with some of these countries, but in the process of European integration some of these countries, such as Spain or Cyprus, are more hindering and slowing down the Kosovo integration process. In the phase that we are many of these countries have said that at the moment mutual recognition reaches between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Kosovo as two independent states, then they will move in their stance towards recognising the independence of the Republic of Kosovo. We are continuing to communicate with these states, but it is certainly an additional obstacle to the integration process and the fact that we have 5 non-recognitional <x1).