Scepticism for visa liberalisation even after elections in France

Although the ruling party views the Macroni victory as positive, EU integration processes connoisseurs are puzzled about its positive visa liberalisation movements.

Vetevendosje Movement parliamentary group leader Mimoza Kusari-Lila tells Kosovo Press that Kosovo cannot be the exception of the Macro project to advance the EU project.

However, she refuses to talk about deadlines for visa liberalisation, but says the greatest and real chances for visa liberalisation are with Macronin president rather than his counter-Candidate.

We have a triumph of democracy in the countries of the European Union. President Macron's victory holds the hope of united Europe and politics, aimed at advancing the European Union project. In the context of this, Kosovo cannot be an exception, while reserve the right not to speak with deadlines in relation to the visa liberalisation process. It is now a fact known that all standards and conditions towards Kosovo have been met in relation to liberalisation. This is an injustice happening, while the chances of course are much greater and more real with President Marko at the helm of France than having someone else in this large European state”, she says.

Despite President Macro's victory, institute director E PIK, Demush Shasha tells Kosovo that he does not expect any substantial progress for visa liberalisation for Kosovo.

After the end of the presidential elections in France, I do not expect any substantial progress for visa liberalisation for Kosovo. Why? Because after a few weeks in June there are parliamentary elections in France, and until the election outcome, I do not expect to have any positive decision-making in terms of visa liberalisation for Kosovo that could enter the election campaign in France. So I don't see any reason to be optimistic about visa liberalisation after the election ends in France. Consequently, I am not optimistic that during the French presidency, which ends on July 1st of this year, there will be progress on this matter”, he says.

Shasha says that even with other sceptical countries for visa liberalisation there has been no progress on the Kosovo side.

Meanwhile, he stressed that the European Parliament's continued visa liberalisation requirements are facing deaf ears.

“As far as skeptical countries do not see any progress in our relations with non-recognitional countries within the EU, there has been no movement to confirm and interpret that there is an advantage in our relations. As far as the European Parliament is concerned, there are continued requirements for visa liberalisation as before. The same ones today are facing in deaf ears”, he adds.

Kosovo has met all criteria for visa liberalisation for years, but now and years, the EU Council of Ministers is reluctant to give the green light for such a process. In addition to France, sceptical of visa liberalisation has been the state of the Netherlands.