European Commission proposes abolishing visas for Kosovo citizens who have Serbia's passports

The European Commission, given the lifting of visas for Kosovo citizens, has proposed that visas be removed even for passport carriers of the Republic of Serbia, who reside on Kosovo territory.

To include passport carriers leaving a special office in Belgrade (co-ordination office) The commission has proposed changing the decision on visa liberalisation for Serbia.

Serbs from Kosovo have the right to own Serbia's passport, which has received visa liberalisation in 2009. However, at the request of the EU, it has had to form an Co-ordination Administration for issuing passports to those with addresses in Kosovo. In April of this year, the EC had stressed that approved visa liberalisation for Kosovo applies only to Kosovo passport owners and not for those citizens who have passports of the Co-ordination Administration, which works within the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

At that time it was estimated that the danger exists from mass migration as well as some security issues.

In its proposal, the European Commission argues that there is already no reason why it was decided that Kosovo's Serb residential Republika Srpska passports would not be able to travel without visas, unlike Serbia's citizens with residence in Serbia.

From 1 January 2024 Kosovo citizens are expected to travel visa-free to 27 EU countries, which make up the so-called Schengen zone.

After visa liberalisation of Kosovo Republic of Kosovo biometric passports carriers takes effect, Kosovo's Kosovo-based passport carriers would remain the only one without the possibility of visa-free movement.

The commission has given this proposal, while now the decision must be made by the Council in co-operation with the European Parliament. The European Commission in its proposal has stressed that the current situation over Serbian passport carriers who issue co-ordination offices in Belgrade has also been discussed with the authorities of Serbia and Kosovo.

On November 16th, the European Commission has approved the proposal that all citizens of the Western Balkans can move without visas to the EU. This is also proposed for passport carriers who releases the Co-ordination Directorate in Belgrade. The decision is now in the hands of the Council and the European Parliament”, European Commission spokesman for home affairs and human rights Christian Viegand has said.
The decision on visa liberalisation for Kosovo will begin to be implemented on January 1st of next year.

Meanwhile, the decision that even Kosovo's residential passport carriers will move without visas will take effect 20 days after publication in the official EU newspaper.