German presidency lost chance, visa liberalisation postponed for another year

The rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Violet von Cremon, tells Kosovo that visa liberalisation for Kosovo could be put on the agenda at the remaining meetings chaired by Germany, but formal visa liberalisation can only come to the Council's later presidency.

Von Croamon: Hopefully the Council will bring a successful end to this by the end of next year

We have raised this issue in all possible cases in the European Parliament. Also, the German presidency has put pressure on visa liberalisation for Kosovo, this has also been discussed at the highest levels. This is obviously an important development, and serious discussions have developed about what else can be done in order to become visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens. This could also be put on the agenda at the remaining meetings chaired by Germany, however, at this moment it is more likely that the final green framework will come only to the Council's later presidencys. We hope the Council will bring a successful end to this by the end of next year”, she says in a response to Kosova Preress.

Despite that, the ruling Democratic League of Kosovo still does not see visa liberalisation as a lost chance during the German presidency.

MP Faton Bislimi tells Kosovo that they must work in the coming weeks with sceptical states.

I don't think this is a lost chance, yet. I wouldn't classify you as such. I believe Germany has been a constant supporter of Kosovo in the process of European integration and the visa liberalisation process. The issue and key obstacles to visa liberalisation are two other states. It is the Netherlands and France that have expressed serious scepticism in this process”, he says.

And so, Vetevendosje Movement MP Pacolli-Dalip has seen it as expected, as government Hoti says it has not fought corruption.

This has been known since the beginning, the chances have been increased when we had a legitimate government, Kurti Government, which began to fight corruption and be praised for these actions, even by the EU progress report. Now since we are in charge of government, a person who has made extremely harmful decisions for which he has been criticised by the EU, especially for abolishing the task force (Anti-corruption) has negatively affected. [...] Now what the German presidency can do is if some states are not convinced that we have fought corruption and organised crime can do nothing. There is nothing this month and there is nothing to be discussed about Kosovo. The chances of obtaining visa liberalisation will increase only when a government aims to combat organised crime and corruption. That this government does not have the will to fight crime and corruption has said the EU's latest progress report. There is no way to convince member states without concrete results”, she said.

But, PDK foreign affairs commission member Enver Hoxhaj tells Kosovo that if the EU does not move by the end of the year for visa liberalisation its credibility in relation to Kosovo will be in question.

“If the EU does not move by the end of the year, its credibility in relation to Kosovo will be in question. We cannot trust the Kosovo- Serbia, which she wants to convince Russia, Serbia, Spain and Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania to recognise Kosovo if a pledge in relation to Kosovo where we have fulfilled the criteria does not meet itself. I don't think it's a question for us now, what the Netherlands thinks, what France thinks... November and the first week of December should be spent in Brussels and see the new European commitment”, he says.

Germany in July has taken over leadership of the Council of Europe and will take the lead by the end of the year. European mechanisms themselves have confirmed that Kosovo has met the criteria for liberalisation. But to happen, each of EU member states must confirm visa liberalisation for Kosovo

Otherwise, Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans that still does not enjoy the right to freedom of movement in the Schengen area.