S'ne vrs: By 531 votes, European MPs approve visa liberalisation report for Kosovo

The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission has adopted last night the report on addressing organised crime in the Western Balkans and the need for the EU to accelerate the integration process. European Parliament deputies have requested visa liberalisation for Kosovo by the EU Council, as in their opinion, isolation increases criminal activities.

This report has been approved by 531 votes for, 48 against and 117 abstentions.

“Raport, adopted Wednesday evening with 531 votes for, 48 against and 117 abstentions, says Western Balkan countries are countries of origin, destination and transit for human trafficking and they serve as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees and as a country for money laundering and arms trafficking. However, Eurodeputs stress that the fight against organised crime and EU integration are mutual strengthening processes, urging the EU to speed up the integration process. In this context, as isolation encourages criminal activities, Eurodeputs also call on the Council to approve visa liberalisation for Kosovo without further delays”, the report says.

According to the report, Balkan peoples are exposed to corruption and lack of employment.

“The key factors that make Western Balkan societies exposed, the report says, are lack of employment opportunities, corruption, dezinformation, state capture elements, inequality and foreign intervention from undemocratic regimes like Russia and China”, the EP Commission for Foreign Affairs Media communiqué said.