Fajon: I will make sure Kosovars move without visas

Slovenian Eurodeput Tanja Fajon, after receiving the second mandate as a visa rapporteur for Kosovo by the European Parliament, has said she will make sure Kosovars move as quickly as possible to the Schengen Zone.

Last Tuesday, the European Parliament has also shortlisted a Slovenian Euro-EP mandate -- Tanja Fajon -- to negotiate with the governments of the European Union's member states on the issue of visa liberalisation for citizens of the Republic of Kosovo.

In an exclusive interview for Gazeta Express, Tanja Fajon, says she is very happy that the Committee is LIBE has also reconfirmed the task of negotiating the visa issue for a mandate.

“I am happy that the LIBE Committee reaffirmed my negotiating mandate for talks with EU governments on the issue of visa liberalisation for Kosovo last Tuesday. This was necessary after the elections and new composition of Parliament. As you remember, the European Parliament has given the green light in April”, Fajon said.

Asked what the first job will be to do on the issue of visa liberalisation for Kosovo, Fajon says he will make sure Kosovars move visa-free as soon as possible.

“I will remain in the position of reporting and will continue to do my best so that Kosovo citizens can travel without visas as soon as possible”, the Slovenian Eurodeput has said.

Fajon in this interview has said Kosovo authorities must continue to implement all necessary obligations for abolishing the visa regime.

“Meanwhile, Kosovo's responsible authorities must continue with the implementation of all requirements needed for abolishing visas. We have to work hard together. I expect from the presidency of Finland in the European Union, and the newly-elected European Council to turn Kosovo's case into an agenda of”, it has managed Fajon.

Asked about German MP Peter Beyer's statement, and about the possibility of Kosovo receiving visa liberalisation as a Christmas present, Fajon has said he cannot give any date currently.

I wouldn't want him to speculate with any date right now, but I hope it will happen very soon. First the Council has given the green light, the regulation can be adopted very quickly. Topi is already in the hands of governments”, the rapporteur for Kosovo, Tanja Fajon, has added further.

In this interview, Fajon has also told of a meeting he had in Brussels this week with Finland's Minister of Internal Affairs, which he says has reiterated the fact that Kosovo has fulfilled all conditions for visa liberalisation, and has also called on him to return the visa issue for Kosovo to the table of discussions.

“I have met with Finland's Interior Minister this week in Brussels. We have had a very direct and frank discussion. Among other things, I have repeated that Kosovo has fulfilled all the conditions, that the EU has promised I will give (liberalisation), and that the Council still refuses to act. I called on her to put the visa liberalisation issue for Kosovo” back on the table, Fajon has indicated.

Finally, Fajon calls on the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo not to take steps back and preserve the progress made in fighting corruption and organised crime.

“In the Commission's final assessment, Kosovo has achieved sufficient progress in fighting corruption and organised crime, thus meeting all necessary conditions on the road to visa liberalisation. However, it is vital that Kosovo continue with the fulfillment of all criteria and not take steps back in the good progress that has been made in recent years. I call on Kosovo to continue working closely with all European Union institutions and actively engage on its path to the European Union”, Slovenian Euro-depute Tanja Fajon concluded.