Dutch activist Eurodeput: Time to remove Kosovo visa liberalisation blockade

In terms of this Netherlands position on visa liberalisation for Kosovars, the Dutch newspaper “Trouw” has come up with a joint letter, Dutch Euro-deput Thijs Reuten and activist Stefan van Dijk.

In this joint writing, Reuten and van Dijk demand that the Netherlands support democratic Kosovo and have demanded that visa-free travel blockades be removed, blockades that Reuten and van Dijk call the “pointless”.

Both cite the fact that the European Commission and the European Parliament have found that Kosovo has met the conditions and that it is objectively ready to obtain visa liberalisation.

While they point out that unfortunately there are member states that disagree, France and Holland belong here.

The two Dutch, author of writing, say the Dutch Government is not sufficiently convinced of Kosovo's progress in fighting organised crime and corruption, until they stress that such an attitude is unequivocal and difficult to prove.

In addition, Reuten and van Dijk say such a Dutch stance is politically motivated, and add that by acting in such a way, Dutch politics are undermining a process that has been built on impartial criteria.

By doing so, our politicians undermine a process that was built on impartial criteria”, the common text said.

Both authors say that by failing to keep promises, Kosovo is at risk of leaving the European Gulf.

“Not keeping promises, we risk getting the people of Kosovo away from us. This is not in anyone's interest, nor in our own interest”, it's all over.

Reuten and van Dijk add that at this time when some countries are displaying autocratic tendencies, then a democratic and EU-oriented country like Kosovo should be provided support. Both say it's time for Holland to lift blockades against Kosovars on the issue

“It is not necessary to explain how undesirable it is for Western Balkan countries to look towards Russia and China instead of the European Union. At a time when some European countries are displaying autocratic tendencies, we must support a democratic country, oriented towards the EU like Kosovo. It is time to put aside internal feelings and give Kosovars the right signal. It is time for the Netherlands to remove the meaningless blockade against visa-free travel”, this scripture says.. /