This is the key state that (s) will enable Kosovo visa liberalisation

He has managed to confirm that even Germany's Minister of Internal Affairs Horst Seehofer, who is the person responsible for the job, has given his support for lifting visas for Kosovars. That was the change that was reached after the Berlin summit.

In Brussels no one dares talk about a visa removal date for Kosovars. Even few diplomats want to talk about it at the time when the European Union is choosing the new parliament, which is challenged by right-wing populism.

Romania had to introduce visa liberalisation issue with Kosovo a little chance for this to happen

Under the rules of the Schengen Agreement to pass the visa liberalisation decision, two things must happen: The country that holds the EU presidency must put the issue on the agenda and the vote should be backed by “the qualified majority”.

In the first quarter of 2019, Romania holds the European Union presidency. She has to put this matter on the agenda. The possibility of this happening is not too great, since this state has not recognised Kosovo's independence and does not appear to be able to support or take an initiative to bring Kosovo into the EU.

The other problem with Romania is that it is under pressure from other EU countries because of high corruption in this country. The European Commission, on Tuesday (13.05), threatened to impose sanctions if Romania approves a law protecting those corrupt from law.

This makes it difficult for Western countries or Kosovo friends to have the opportunity to ask Romania to enter into the agenda something that is of little interest to the EU, diplomats comment. Even though Romania is not affected by the liberalisation decision because it is not part of Schengen, they determine the agenda.

France's Key Role

The second question remains to be questioned is passing the vote with “qualified majority”. To achieve this number, more than 55 percent of Schengen member states must vote for visa liberalisation, which is not a problem, but these must be the countries representing 65 percent of the general population in the countries that vote.

Taking that into account, if all countries that have not accepted Kosovo and are in Schengen vote against and they join France and the Netherlands that are currently opposed to statements, then the vote will not pass. If one of the countries that have not recognised Kosovo but are positively open to the country, such as Greece and Slovakia, voted for, then the vote will pass without France and Holland. However, it is hard to believe that any vote will pass without the blessing of a country such as France.

The key to this vote is France, diplomats claim, President Macron, respectively. French diplomats when speaking privately are in support of visa liberalisation for Kosovo, but the French president's political part has blocked any movement towards EU enlargement, including visa liberalisation. This part of the French administration has even suggested that visa removal for Albania and Georgia has been wrong.

Analysts say, without France's vote, even other countries will not demand that the vote move forward. Kosovo leaders will go to Paris for the continuation of the Berlin summit, in June they will meet personally with President Macro and can convince him, but may also fail to achieve this diplomatic step for Kosovo. /dw/