Kosovo's tasks ahead of final decision have not yet ended the battle for visas

The positive recommendation does not even mean closing the entire visa liberalisation process, as far as the final decision is concerned, procedures require the adoption of this recommendation by two EU institutions, parliament and the Council of Ministers.

Kosovo Government Justice Minister Abelard Tahiri told Radio Free Europe, that Kosovo institutions are generally committed to empowering rule of law.

We fully devote ourselves to the Republic of Kosovo in the future as well, ready for steps to be learned in the European agenda. So, visa liberalisation is only one step now ahead of us, as is the moment when Kosovo will open membership negotiations for the European Union, are chapters that connect to empowering the rule of law and we will prepare in advance for this process. I can confirm that we are on very good track as far as this process is concerned”, Tahiri said.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, days ago, has held a meeting with some of the Kosovo institutions' leaders dealing with the justice system, where he has reportedly asked them to continue work of devotion to rule of law and combat and condemn negative phenomena.

Kosovo Judiciary Council Chairman-in-Chief Nehat Idrizi told Radio Free Europe that the justice system would increase more commitment to work, despite positive recommendation given by the European Commission for visa liberalisation.

“does not mean that the positive signal has now been given and that we are satisfied with this situation. We should be more committed to working on both corruption and organised crime. So the fight against these two phenomena remains committed to us as the KDR. We have to continue, and this is a motivation to be even more effective in fighting these phenomena, but in general for our demanding works, Idriz said.

Even the head of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, Blerim Isufaj, told Radio Free Europe that prosecutors' commitment to strengthening the rule of law would be maximum.
Our “Our work will go on at maximum length, as is best possible”, Isufaj said.

However, even after the European Commission's positive recommendation for visa liberalisation, the separate challenge remains in the European Parliament, and especially in the Council of Ministers of the EU.

Such a challenge has been mentioned by Minister of European Integrations in the Government of Kosovo, Gift Hoxha.

It has stated that Kosovo institutions are under way to draft an action plan together with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Parliament to have an accurate agenda to lobbi to EU member states.

The European Commission has proposed to the European Union Council and the European Parliament lifting visas for Kosovo citizens by transferring Kosovo to the list of visa-free countries for short-term stays in the Schengen area.

The proposal has been made together with the positive assessment of the Commission confirming that Kosovo has met the criteria of the guide for visa liberalisation.