Kosovo's visa liberalisation document detected in Brussels

A document being discussed in Brussels by the chiefs of missions of EU member states in the European capital, which prepare the agenda for the Council for General Affairs meeting representing the ministers of member states. The Council meeting is held on 26 June, two days before the summit of heads of state. But what is said about visa liberalisation for Kosovo in the draft document addressing the enlargement and stabilisation-association process for Western Balkan countries and Turkey.

In the latest version of the draft, in addition to visas, the issue of talks with Serbia is addressed, as well as other issues, including calling for Kosovo to improve the situation in the area of rule of law by ensuring independence of the judiciary.

Also in the document, the expulsion of six Turks without judicial procedures is criticized.

As far as visas in this draft are concerned, the Council welcomes ratification of the agreement with Montenegro on the border in March 2019 that constitutes fulfillment of one of the key criteria for visa liberalisation for Kosovo and significant achievements in the spirit of good inter-side reports.

Also, ambassadors of EU countries in the document that are preparing for the Council for General Affairs stress that “Council is aware of the European Commission's purpose to make an assessment of the recent criteria for fighting corruption and organised crime, and invites the Commission to report whether other criteria are being fulfilled”, the document says.