Analyst: Croatia big step for visa liberalisation for Kosovo

After receiving the mandate at the presidency of the European Union Council, Croatia could speed up the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo citizens, even though it is not defined in the government programme.

This is being praised as a major step for Kosovo to use its position to remove the prejudices of member states, as well as to postpone Kosovo's other processes towards the EU.

Political issue recogniser, Nundman Pacarizi, told the Online Economy that Croatia can make moves towards visa liberalisation for Kosovo.

But as he says, visa liberalisation is related to domestic issues. So Croatia can only push some process forward or even put it on the agenda.

The “cannot be expected miracles, but only positive moves towards visa liberalisation, as it is related to Kosovo's internal issues, including the resumption of dialogue with Serbia, which cannot happen without the formation of new institutions. Headship by Croatia could help Kosovo postpone some issues ahead to put them into the agenda, but does not have the power to move things forward regardless of its”, he said.

Parisi says the new government should work on dialogue with Serbia and fighting organised crime and corruption.

“Fighting crime and corruption is a permanent condition from the start for visa liberalisation. It's a condition that doesn't have clear parameters that can be measured but it's something that goes on. Kosovo has made progress, however, I think, is not enough to convince EU countries that conditions for visa liberalisation are ripe. Dialogue with Serbia will be one of the important EU issues, which will play with the stick and carrot card in relation to Kosovo and Serbia, which is well ahead of the integration process so that Kosovo is approved visa liberalisation as a reward for tax removal, on constructive issues with Serbia the same will be requested by Serbia”

While political analyst Faton Abdullahu said the country should not be dragged by the government's non-formation, but Croatia's position in the EU should be exploited.

Abdullahu stressed that Kosovo can benefit much from both the visa liberalisation process and other processes, so he says every lost day is bad for the country.

The “is good news that Croatia has assumed the EU presidency for many reasons. Croatia recognises Kosovo, recognises the past, knows our ambitions and political will and our opening towards the EU. Croatia is the one who has no prejudice against Kosovo, it can use its position to drop prejudice where it can be seen of some administrators in Brussels, but also of the states that look at us with reservations and hesitation”

Croatia's “motivations are beyond us because we are blocking to create government institutions to continue important jobs. We will not be able to use the good they can get from Croatia, as we are blocking to establish the government. It's painful considering what we can get from”.

He said the administration in Brussels is complex, but Croatia can do much in accelerating the creation of the political atmosphere.

The “is very on track and Croatia can do more away than others have done. That is a reason to call on both political forces to establish the government. As each day I am losing to the harm of Kosovo citizens and in this segment of visa liberalisation”, Abdullah has told EO.

From 1 January until 30 June, Croatia will have the EU Council Presidency. In this capacity Croatia will have a key role in determining the work and agenda of the EU among the 28 member states.