European Parliament support for Kosovo not expected to result with visa liberalisation

According to them, the European Parliament does not impose the Council of Ministers and the European Commission on such a task that free movement of citizens remains hostage, especially of member states that have not recognised Kosovo.

Arber Fetah from the Group for Jury and Political Studies (GLSP) says it is unfair for Kosovo to be Europe's most isolated country, when it is known that it has met long-term conditions and tasks.

“As far as visa liberalisation is concerned is the good signal this support in the European Parliament, but it is a recurring statement, which does not have a big effect, since the European Parliament's statements and resolutions are not binding on member states and Council of Ministers and the European Commission. Therefore, visa liberalisation remains hostage, especially of member states which should give their approval, and at this point it is not up to Kosovo to decide something in this direction, except to carry out its duties and continue a good image especially in the fight against corruption... We remain the most isolated country in Europe and take into account the number of residents, even the political and economic context, there are countries that are even worse and are liberalised in the sense of free and market movement”, he tells Kosovapress.

University professor Africa Hoti says Council of Ministers concerns have passed each condition and that the visa issue has been pushed back.

I believe that the issue is entirely political because, in the procedural sense, and from the report we have from the European Commission, which finds the fulfillment of the criteria, then I think that this issue should be really forgotten so far. There seem to be other political problems, which cannot be overcome by several EU countries to get liberalisation... So even if it crawls, eventually if we don't get liberalisation, I won't be surprised at”, says Hoti.

Even Emir Abrashi from Democracy Plus says visa liberalisation is not already in Kosovo's hands. However, it stresses that the Kosovo government should not stop trying to push this process forward.

“would have to work hard on realising the promise of visa liberalisation, which is not up to Kosovo. However, the Kosovo government should not halt efforts to push this process forward, much more when we consider having great support in this respect in the European Parliament”, he says.

Kosovo is the only Western Balkan country that does not enjoy free movement of citizens.