Hoxha: Days count on Kosovo visa liberalisation begins

We've seen a huge public tension recently, but we've also seen a Government commitment to this issue. I am optimistic that the political scene will find a consensus for the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro to be ratified as soon as”, Minister Hoxha said.

According to her, after meeting the criteria for visa liberalisation on the part of Kosovo, there will later be a three to six months needed for the European Union to put into force an eventual decision on free visa movement for Kosovo citizens.

She has added that Kosovo should take advantage of the case and ratify the demarcation agreement as soon as possible. On the contrary, she said the European Union would lose focus on the visa liberalisation process towards Kosovo.

“I think that we should reach this consensus, Government and all, as soon as possible because then we know that at the last meeting in November that is held in the EU Council, in the agenda it will be the BREX (the departure of Great Britain from the EU), and in 2019 parliamentary elections (in the EU) begin and we will have a situation where the focus for the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo will be lost. So we have to seize the opportunity to move forward”, Minister Hoxha said.

As far as the European Commission's report on Kosovo is expected to be published soon, Minister Hoxha said he expects a balanced report.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is expected to present the strategy for the Balkans and European Union enlargement in this part of Europe on 7 February.

In turn, Kosovo's president, Hashim Thaci, had invited the political spectrum to be responsible and prepared to fulfill his obligations by that time. On the contrary, as he has said, it would cost Kosovo a high price of “.