The Czech presidency shows the steps of visa decision-making: It All Begins on October 13th

The spokesman for the Czech EU presidency has indicated that the European Commission's report on the current visa situation is expected to be presented at the Visa Working Group meeting on 13 October, then the Czech Presidency will do its best to put it into the ministers' agenda as soon as possible.

According to the spokesman, the visa decision that could last several months could be taken at the level of ministers, regardless of how things flow at the informal meeting of EU heads of state to be held a week earlier.

The European Commission's report, which will be presented on 13 October in the European Council's feasibility body called the Visa Worker Group, will serve as the basis for launching the debate on approval of visa liberalisation at the EU Council.

So Czech Presidency spokesman Václav Smolka told Gazeta Express, confirming that among EU states there is readiness for Kosovo to lift the visa regime for the Schengen area.

The visa liberalisation of Kosovo is very high in the Czech Presidency agenda. Currently, the European Commission is preparing a report on the current situation, which will serve as a basis for launching a debate on the adoption of visa liberalisation in the EU Council. This report is expected to be presented at the Visa Work Group meeting on October 13th 2022”, he said.

Czech Presidency spokesman Vaclav Smolka, who once also exercises the function of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala's spokesman, has said Chechia will make every effort to put it into the agenda of EU ministers as soon as possible.

The Czech presidency will make every effort to bring this issue to the ministerial level as soon as possible. However, the European Council's (heads of state) support is not a precondition in the matter. What is important, the process on the Council that can still last several months is on track. We are actively working towards a positive decision as soon as possible”, Smolka said.

He said further that progress on abolishing visas for Kosovo depends also on the political situation in the region, meaning progress in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

The procedure will also depend on the overall political situation in the region, so the presidency fully supports efforts for a positive trajectory in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue”, he said.

Leaders of the 27 European Union countries will meet in advance on October 7th at an informal meeting, for which the Czech presidency spokesman said the official agenda.

The upcoming meeting of leaders in Prague is an informal meeting without an official agenda. It is expected that the meeting, led by European Council President Charles Michel, will reflect the most urgent challenges facing the EU currently, the war in Ukraine and energy security, and its economic impacts” respectively, Smolka said.

In a joint statement by the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland published on September 16th, calling for progress in visa liberalisation for Kosovo was also seen as a sign that political support among the European bloc for this process exists.

France and Holland as two of the reluctant states that Kosovars are allowed to travel freely in the Schengen area now appear to have no dilemmas.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry two days ago declared they are awaiting the European Commission's report on the visa liberalisation process, and if the same considers there is progress then the Netherlands is ready to take a stand.

The European Commission will soon come with an up-to-date report on visa liberalisation standards. The Netherlands is open to assess whether all standards have been met. Progress made so far in the fight against organised crime and corruption registry is key to us” this minister said.

After hearing the EC, the Dutch say the Dutch government will take a stand and hand the matter over to Parliament.

The “Only after the assessment of the progress made and after a discussion with Parliament will we take a stand on the matter”.

Positive signals have also given German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde on Friday, he has said the issue of visa liberalisation for Kosovo will be resolved in the coming year, more precisely during the months of February and March.

The European Commission has twice recommended that Kosovo liberalise visas in its reports in 2016 and 2018, but such a decision has never been discussed in the EU Council.

Kosovo is the only state in the Western Balkans that does not have visa liberalisation with the EU.