Kosovo continues to be isolated, hope this year for visa liberalisation

Kosovo continues to be the only country in Europe whose citizens do not enjoy the right to free movement. Although more than 10 years have passed since visa dialogue has begun, Kosovo continues to be isolated. But connoisseurs of political developments estimate that in June of this year, Kosovo could receive positive signals regarding visa liberalisation. Analyst Dritro Arifi has told Radio Kosovo that Kosovo has long met the criteria required by the European Union. According to him, the decision on visa liberalisation is political, and Kosovo should exploit this moment.

This year, the decision is expected to be made on the Council, because it has passed all other procedures. The European Commission has given the green light. The European Parliament, which several years made the same request to become visa liberalisation for Kosovo, is now in the Council of Ministers, and I believe that with Makron's victory, it is a good opportunity to receive the signal by the end of the year to become the visa liberalisation of Kosovas”, he said.

Even analyst Emrush Ujkan has expressed optimism that Kosovo can gain visa liberalisation in a quick period. He cited political stability in the country and the re-election of Emmanuel Macron in France as factors that could push the EU for visa liberalisation.

“think that considering these factors Kosovo has reason to expect this visa liberalisation in a quick time. The crisis in Ukraine increases. Kosovo's own alignment in a line of sanctions imposed by the EU against Ukraine made us believe that Kosovo is closer The EU and its values” he added.

Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla has said he will not leave stone without movement until visa liberalisation takes place. He has declared there have been several meetings with states that are still sceptical of visa liberalisation for Kosovars.

There is already a public position that Kosovo has met all criteria for visa liberalisation. We, for more than that, have made visits and meetings with states that are still sceptical, but also with states that may influence these sceptical states that Kosovo can enable visa liberalisation”, Svechla has said.

Otherwise France and the Netherlands are the two skeptical countries for visa liberalisation, while France has held the EU presidency for six months since January this year. The dialogue on visa liberalisation between Kosovo and the EU began in January 2012. Kosovo is the only country for the liberalisation process to have lasted so long.