Prime Minister, will we have visas this year?

The Kosovo government has adopted draft communications and information strategy in support of the European integration process for the 1920-2021s.

European Integration Minister Dona Hoxha said this strategy as the main issue addresses communication in support of European integration.

“In the context of Government priorities based on the Government programme, Kosovo aims to obtain EU membership candidate status by 2020. But also the strategy as a primary goal is aimed at communicating the visa liberalisation process and then implementing the SAA. In view of these orientations, it is evident that civil society, interested parties and international partners should be strategically communicated with the public. So given that we are in a very important process of finalising the visa liberalisation process, I also want to add that you have a document before you that has been prepared and I have asked all of us to be attentive to future meetings with our international partners that the message we give within this document prepared before in sh<1>, she said.

Minister Hoxha has also informed the government cabinet of implementation of European agenda priorities. Hoxha spoke of priority activities, which must be completed during May.

Most of these activities, according to it, are obligations derived from implementation of the agenda for European reforms. While urging attention from the ministers to make progress this month in several areas.

The next option is to adopt in Government the action plan for implementing the strategy for combating the informal economy and to complete the importance assessment for the NGO sector... The next action, the security of the UN budget under 2019-2021 for the transfer of inspectors from the municipal level to AVU. Transferring inspectors from municipalities to AVUK is the top priority under the agriculture and food safety sector that Kosovo” has, she said.

And Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has asked his ministers to carry out duties in their restaurant and not to neglect them.

We are in the most critical periods of our co-operation with the EU. The arrangement for visa liberalisation is not only visa liberalisation. It's an expression of reconciliation with our achievements. And at this very time the tasks you have at the resort, do not neglect them. I begged you as a colleague, take it seriously. Take an interest in your responsibilities which may immediately be good signals of assessment made by the European Commission but by separate governments. There are some states that are much more reserved in action -- for both enlargement and visa liberalisation -- and other topics. Even Kosovo should pay maximum care in this direction ... We must continue with our work in fighting corruption, fighting crime”, he said.

Haradinaj also voiced confidence that this year Kosovo will have visa liberalisation.

I am deeply convinced that this year we will realise our right to free movement. It's optional but I have to stay focused on the job. Now in June soon, we will receive confirmation of meeting the criteria. But we must not stop. We must continue further on to key topics”, he said.

Haradinaj has also spoken of the Law on Police. He said the government has taken this topic seriously.

It's a dynamic old job, with a law on police approaching the military law. But there has been a pause for failing to approve this law. We need to get this conversation over again and see how we do. To not make promises too much and then delay in doing so, we have taken this subject seriously”, Haradinaj said.

By contrast, the government has approved the initiative to negotiate the agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for financing the rehabilitation project of railway line 10, phase 2 stretch of Fushe Kosovo-Mitrovica.