In Brussels, more voices against visa liberalisation for Kosovo are expected to light engines in October

Speaking to Radio Free Europe, they say there is a political readiness among EU member states, for the process to be finalised and the decision to free movement of Kosovars to European countries, or in what is known as the Schengen area, is adopted.

Furthermore, sources say, the “s are not heard voices against visa liberalisation”, which testify that an appropriate moment has been created to move the process forward.

But according to sources, the issue of visa liberalisation for Kosovo during the month of October will begin to be discussed in working groups of the EU Council where representatives of union member states are.

The issue has remained hostage for more than three years on the Council, where, so far, there have been sceptical states for the free movement of Kosovo citizens, arguing that “has not yet come time for such a thing”.

Two other EU institutions, which have a role in decision making, the European Commission and the European Parliament, have demonstrated full support for visa liberalisation for Kosovo.

The European Commission has confirmed that Kosovo has fulfilled all the criteria needed by the guide for visa liberalisation and has recommended that visas be lifted for its citizens.

The European Commission has already confirmed that it remains in the stance previously expressed, that Kosovo continues to meet all criteria required for visa liberalisation.

The European Parliament, for years, has not only given consent to visa liberalisation for Kosovo, but has called on member states to approve the visa liberalisation decision in the EU Council as soon as possible.

The first signs of political support for visa liberalisation have surfaced during the EU and Western Balkans summit in June in Brussels. At the time, many EU countries' leaders have publicly supported visa liberalisation.

But, now, technical work has to be done by experts and working groups. Diplomats in Brussels have warned that the European Commission, on October 12th, in annual progress reports, to repeat that Kosovo continues to meet the criteria for visa liberalisation.

Later, this topic would have to be in order of the day at the meeting of visa groups at the Council ʹ and mid-October.

Even at those meetings, experts from the European Commission will be able to report on Kosovo's progress in meeting the criteria for visa liberalisation.

On these discussions it will depend on how soon the process will continue, but it is expected, as sources say, “will go towards closing”.

Diplomats in Brussels have said it is very important that Kosovo is continuing frequent contacts with several EU member states, at the level of interior affairs ministries, to address any concerns some states may have regarding visa liberalisation.

Although confirming that “is a very positive moment for visa liberalisation for Kosovo” and that “this issue will now be in order of the day at the Council”, diplomats in Brussels are reluctant to mention dates or deadlines of when the decision could be made.

That there is political support from key visa liberalisation states, even the joint call the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland have made for “progress in the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo” this week.

According to diplomatic sources, France has long opposed visa liberalisation, citing, among other things, “the poor experience with Albania and Georgia” countries from which there were a large number of unbased asylum seekers in France.

The Netherlands was among the skeptical countries. But, now, neither France nor the Netherlands express themselves against it and say that “should be accepted the progress Kosovo has made in fulfilling the” conditions.

In addition to meeting Kosovo's technical conditions for the visa liberalisation process, diplomats in Brussels say, political circumstances matter.

With the decision to launch EU membership negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia in July, the process that has begun following many political obstacles has created a positive moment in EU policy towards the Western Balkan region.

Kosovo is the only country in this region that has no free movement in the Schengen area.