Avramopoulos: Kosovo deserves visa liberalisation

The European Union is losing credibility with its resistance to liberalising the visa regime with Kosovo. These positions were shared yesterday by the immigration commissioner Dimitris Avramoopoulos and Kosovo rapporteur Tanja Fajon. The two senior officials appealed European lawmakers to give the green light to the process that started in 2012.

The European Union must liberalise the visa regime with Kosovo as basic standards have been met and is in the interest of the entire Balkans' European perspective.

This appeal addressed European Parliament lawmakers Wednesday through immigration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.

In its parliament, the top European official recalled that seven years after the start of the dialogue on visa liberalisation, the country has made concrete steps in fighting corruption and organised crime, and these efforts should be assessed.

Avramopolos:” Kosovo is the only partner in the Western Balkans who is not benefiting from the agreement on free movement, along with its citizens. I know some countries have reservations about immigration risks from Kosovo, and they themselves are aware of them. But we must encourage the country to further meet the remaining criteria, strengthen the legal framework, and communicate clearly to its citizens the rights and obligations that stem from the visa-free regime. Now we have to agree as soon as this process is completed. ”

His appeal also joined the European Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo, Tanja Fajon, stressing that the EU is not sticking to promises made to Kosovo.

It nominated some countries that still spread scepticism for lifting visa regime restrictions between the two allies.

Visa liberalisation for Kosovo will again be on the agenda of discussions Thursday, where European lawmakers will vote for further steps in this process.