Will there be visa liberalisation for Kosovo during French EU presidency

But diplomats in the EU have said these days that Kosovo is not yet at the moment when it can expect visa liberalisation, even though the European Commission has confirmed that all conditions have been met. One of the main reasons why there is reluctance among several EU states for visa liberalisation for Kosovo is that in some states it is considered to be the “bad experience in the case of Albania and Georgia”.

When visas for Albania and Georgia have been liberalised, the Commission also said all conditions have been met. But after the removal of visas, we had many people who came to our countries, including criminals and extremists. Such liberalization was misused. It took a while to resolve this problem”, this source said to add that Kosovo's “case first want to be convinced that it is fully confident with authorities that we will have no problem, and then liberalised visas.

“We are co-operating, at some point liberalisation will occur, but that moment is not now”, a diplomatic source said, not wanting to establish whether any action is expected during the presidency of France.

France, on January 1st, has taken over the rotating chairmanship of the European Union Council, which will last until the end of June. A series of priorities has set France as the topic to be taken in the first half of this year before the Czechia hands over the next lead for the second half.

In terms of strengthening EU strategic autonomy, increasing defence capacities, reforming the Schengen area, implementing environmental protection goals, energy and other topics, France has warned that special care will also cost Western Balkans.

A conference dedicated to the Western Balkans is also expected during the French EU presidency. France's president, Emmanuel Macron, had warned this long ago. Diplomatic sources in the EU have said this conference will not be any classic summit The EU-Balkans, because one will be held during the EU's Czech presidency in the second half of the year, but more a “conference where some specific problems in the region will be discussed”.

Among the specific “problems” according to diplomats are considered mostly the current political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the reports between Kosovo and Serbia, for which dialogue is under way in Brussels facilitated by the European Union.

About dialog Kosovo, Serbia There are warnings that there will be an added “diplomatic commitment” to move things around, as Kosovo and Serbia continue to have diametrically opposed positions”.

Germany and France are expected to work together, which will soon take over the rotating EU chairmanship.

France's President Emmanuel Macron, speaking earlier of the rotating EU chairmanship, has warned he will take special care of the Western Balkan region.

Our closest neighbour is the Western Balkans. In June, we will host the conference for the Western Balkans because the Balkans are more than neighborhoods, in Europe's heart. As long as the map is looked at, and our history”, Macron said.

He further stressed that the region today is going through tensions.

“History sometimes turns even tragicly. So today we have a special responsibility to the Western Balkans. There we need to implement the policy of new engagement, but also investments in order to favour the economic integration of the region, help exchange people, resolve minority issues, and fight against the influences and manipulations that are the result of the commitment of powers that across the Balkans want to destabilise Europe”, Macron has said.

He has added that the political and economic commitment in the Western Balkans is a true agenda for the sovereignty of Europe, because, as he put it, “we cannot build Europe in peace for the next 50 years if we leave the Western Balkans in the situation in which it is currently”.

This means that we must clarify the European perspective, invest in the region, its unity, and have a shared ambition for the coming decade”, he has said.

This warning has been understood as very encouraging by diplomats in the EU, as France in recent years has been among the sceptical states of the EU enlargement process.

France's chairmanship of the EU coincides with elections expected to take place in this state just spring of this year.

But officials from France have said that holding the national elections would not be an obstacle for France to carry out its duties, as well as as as leading European Union leaders.