Sėka visa liberalisation, institutions criticised for lobby process

Just a day before giving the decision on irrevocable resignations from the government chairman's position, Prime Minister already in resignation Ramush Haradinaj had declared it to be a matter of weeks when Kosovo will receive the news of visa liberalisation.

“The issue of visa liberalisation I regret that day after year it has not been carried out, but we are also hearing good news that the process is much ahead. On the visit of the health minister who is a member of Chancellor Merkel's cabinet, Jens Spahn, we have also discussed the subject. I think better than maybe we've hoped we're on the issue of visa liberalisation. So, the head of the Commission is German, the Germans have taken on an initiative like that. I think it's a whole matter of weeks now, I know some are saying that you're rushing the prime minister, we're running late, the truth is we're late, but it's a matter of weeks to get this deserved news, we're entitled to this news that we've met the” criteria, he said.

But pessimistic in this regard is indicated by Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister Behgjet Pacolli, who has been reluctant to give a specific deadline for visa liberalisation.

He says the wish has to happen since tomorrow, but he doesn't promise anything.

Don't make me promise anything. I would willingly say: "neer." But I can't tell you. We're working, we're on a good track for this”, he said.

The connoisseur of European integrations estimates that the country's institutions have not been serious in fulfilling their obligations, but also in the lobby process for visa liberalisation.

So, university professor Africa Hoti, giving the dates for liberalisation, calls it speculation of its kind.

Whatever the concrete dates are is nothing but speculation of its kind and that there is nothing behind these positions but politics and the tendency for internal consumption. 3:10. This is also inappropriate to discuss, it is completely predocasual for ministers to have antagonistic positions with the government chief. We are recently talking about the position of the same institution”, he says.

He says the EU's unambiguous position and the lack of seriousness on the part of Kosovo institutions in fulfilling the tasks are the main factors Kosovars do not yet enjoy free movement.

And in the context of that, Hoti says the lack of a clear and coordinated campaign will enter.

It identifies 4 problems that, according to him, have resulted from a complicated process for visa liberalisation for Kosovars.

The key procedure is related to the EU's uncertainty against Kosovo and the political problems some member states are holding against Kosovo. The second, normally linked to the inadequate and incomplete campaign to lobby for visa liberalisation, which normally did not give the right result, because we did not have an ongoing campaign keeping in touch all member states for developments in Kosovo. The third problem is internal political developments, which sooner or later reflect their negative effect, and that is already seen. And the fourth obstacle relates to the issue of non-satisity in performing tasks, which are set as the priorities of member states”, he says.

European Integrations' connoisseur, Taulant Kryeziu, from the Institute. EPIK says the visa liberalisation process has been politicised too much.

He says that numerous statements by representatives of Kosovo institutions, which this year's end, will be the time of free movement for Kosovo citizens, have caused citizens to lose confidence in them.

Whatever they have done about this process has been for political benefit. The real burden falls on ordinary citizens, who run embassies to obtain a visa for even medical needs. While the holders do not have this problem at all. All are equipped with visas, some with citizenship of countries where it moves freely into the Shengen area. This is not even a subject of discussion about them”, he declares.

He held the country's institutions responsible for ruling such a situation in the country today.

As it shows pessimistic that the issue of visa liberalisation for Kosovo will go to the European Council within this year.

I find it difficult to see that within this year the decision-making procedure will be consumed, which means that our file goes towards the European Union Council”, he points out.

All in the end, Kryeziu warns that there can be no visa lobby by violating the country's positive laws, as otherwise a negative signal is sent to EU member states on the part of Kosovo about how the law is not implemented in the country.

We remember that the Country Report for 2019 was released on May 29th of this year. While based on it, EU Office chief Nataliya Apostolova said visa liberalisation should happen as soon as possible.