Kosovo is work to convince sceptical states of visa liberalisation

The messages Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti received during his visit to France this week, according to European integration processes connoisseurs, seem to have dimmed even more expectations that the European Union could quickly liberalise visas for Kosovo.

France is one of the most sceptical states in terms of lifting the visa regime for Kosovo citizens.

After meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said representatives of this state have not changed their stance on visa liberalisation for Kosovo.

“I am convinced that they have received our message, but there is no commitment on their part that will have the removal of the visa regime”, Prime Minister Kurti told public television on June 23rd.

Among other things, the prime minister said it must work with the Netherlands and other states that are skeptical about the process.

Although not much has been said officially, Belgium has also expressed reservations about supporting visa liberalisation for Kosovo.

The refusal of France and Holland especially to support this process relates to the fact that these two states fear a possible wave of immigrants from Kosovo, while the other reason is the insufficient fight of organised crime and corruption.

Although Kosovo has fulfilled almost all the criteria for visa liberalisation, the decision has stalled for years in Brussels.

According to European Law Professor Avni Mazrek, the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo has stalled because governments have consistently failed to convince skeptical states like France and the Netherlands.

Mazreku says it is harmful if visa liberalisation is now linked even to a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.

If France thinks this way, I don't think it's compatible with the functioning of the European Union, it's not compatible with those fundamental values on which the EU is built and there's no kind of legal basis on which the EU function, which in this case is the Lisbon” treaty, Mazreku says.

Mazreku thinks the government, led by Albin Kurti, should launch an offensive of meetings and visits to convince EU states to support visa removal for Kosovo.

“It is the last time when Kosovo should have a way of functioning, how Kosovo contacts them, and how Kosovo develops an effective policy in the member states of the European Union, because they are the main actors who make up what is called EU decision-making policy”, Mazreku says.

For the first time, the issue of visa liberalisation for Kosovo with the dialogue process linked the EU's special envoy for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak.

Speaking at the Western Balkans Summit in Vienna, Lajcak said Kosovo has not yet been granted liberalisation, as the EU is not satisfied with the performance of dialogue with Serbia.

Visa liberalisation in recent weeks has supported several European states, among which Greece, Austria, Croatia and Italy.

Kosovo has been promised visa liberalisation since 2011.

Three years ago, the European Commission recommended lifting the visa regime for Kosovo. Liberalisation was also voted in the European Parliament, but the final decision has remained with the EU Council of Ministers.

Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans whose citizens do not enjoy the right to free movement in the Schengen area. / REL/