44 minutes agoREL: Czech presidency respects France's bid, visas for Kosovo with ETIAS
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)On the eve of the second discussion of the visa processing group at the EU Council, the Czech Presidency has submitted a <x0-document Inter-institution”, which has already included France's application submitted to the first meeting, on 13 October. France wants the entry into force of an eventual visa liberalisation decision [...]
France wants the entry into force of an eventual decision on visa liberalisation for Kosovo to be conditioned on strengthening the European Information System and authorisation of travel (ETIAS).
Free Europe Radio has had access to this document, which is the basis for discussions that will take place on November 9th or 10th at the next meeting of the Council of the European Union visa processing group.
The EU Council's amended Czech Presidency proposal contains conditioning visa liberalisation to be entered into force with <x) the EU system's effective implementation of ETIAS”, as well as requirements to Kosovo as far as entry into force, to conclude agreements for repatriation with those EU countries with which there are no such agreements so far, as well as to adjust its visa policy to that of the European Union.
The digital system, E TIAS aims to make an ID of visitors entering the EU from outside the free movement area, Schengen.
France has come up with this condition since the meeting of an EU Council for Visa Co-operative Group.
There have been reports that it is supported by at least four other states: Sweden, Belgium, Holland, and Spain.
The European Commission, since 2018, has confirmed that Kosovo has met all conditions required for free movement, but some individual bloc leaders have repeatedly expressed reservations about Kosovo's free movement.
On 12 October, the Commission has issued another document, stressing that its recommendation “remains completely valid”.
From the Czech Republic, which holds the European Council presidency by the end of 2022, have said several times they hope to resolve the visa liberalisation issue for Kosovo during their mandate. / REL/
