EU fears illegal migration of Kosovars, cause of visa non-liberalisation

Knowing the political circumstances, Artan Murati for Online Economy says 2019 is a lost year for Kosovo in terms of visa liberalisation, while Haradinaj's statements that a decision for liberalisation could occur this year is considering it false.

This statement is false as many other statements being issued on the issue of visa liberalisation because it is now more aware that visa liberalisation for this year will not be because we are too late, we are at the end of the year and the most that can be done in this respect is that we could potentially be part of the agenda in the rotating meeting of the Council of Ministers from the Finnish presidency. But even this is a little bit reliable since we don't even have functional institutions since July, and for the most part, the state of Kosovo has not had in its agenda the lobes of states that have scepticism for visa liberalisation for Kosovo. So even in practical terms that 2019 law is a lost year in terms of visa liberalisation and I say with full responsibility that this year there cannot be free movement of citizens towards the Schengen” area, he says.

Although Kosovo has met the formal criteria for visa liberalisation, Murati says this issue has remained hostage to decision-making by countries like France, the Netherlands and Germany.

He says these states are fearing illegal migrations, which would also create domestic political problems in their countries.

“Practically according to the guide Kosovo has accepted from the European Commission since 2010, Kosovo has met the formal criteria for liberalisation, but now we have some open issues with EU member states. Where decision-making in terms of visa liberalisation remains, such as France, Holland, Germany, and so on, which are major states in the EU have scepticism that liberalisation can not only be misused on the part of Kosovars, but it can also cause political trouble for the political leadership of these countries, since these states are facing illegal migration from all over the world, and as they do not want to have another problem with Kosovo citizens”, Mati says.

The country's institutions last week for two days were executives of the delegation's visit from Germany, namely the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, Construction and Homeland, on the issue of visa liberalisation.

The meetings were held without media presence, while only one communique was issued for holding meetings.

Although the position of participants in the communique is not made clear, they have reportedly praised Kosovo's approach to the European Union as an important step.