Reuten: EU delayed Kosovo visas too long

The European Parliament's rapporteur for visa liberalisation for Kosovo, Thijs Reuten, has stressed that the visa liberalisation file within the EP is expected to be completed within this week, later on 18 April, will be the final vote.

In an exclusive interview for Klankosova.tv, the Dutch Euro-deput confirmed that lifting visas is an important milestone in Kosovo's European integration.

This trip should be much shorter. The EU left Kosovo waiting too long. Four years after Kosovo fulfilled all the conditions, we finally keep our promise. Since 2024, Kosovo citizens can finally travel towards the EU on holiday, family visits and business trips without having to apply for visas. It's more than a outgoing bureaucratic burden. It is an important historic moment in Kosovo's European integration”, Reuten has said.

Reuten has indicated that the Kosovo-Kosovo dialogue process- Serbia must always be separate from that of visas, and that it has not influenced the work done on visa liberalisation. He has said that along with other Eurodeputes colleagues who have worked for the process over the years, they have done an important job.

Among other things, he has added that after lifting visas, the European Union of Kosovars should pave the way for becoming a candidate state for the EU.

Total interview:

Are Kosovo's visa liberalisation expected on April 18th?

On April 18th, the final visa liberalisation vote for Kosovo will be held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Since we do not see any difficulties, this file is really expected to be finalised this week.

How do you describe your work in this process?

Much has been done for this file by the previous rapporteur in the European Parliament, former President Tanja Fajon. But I was honored to have taken responsibility for this important topic and I always pushed member states on the Council to end their futile visa liberalisation blockade for Kosovo. When that finally happened, we worked hard to reach an agreement as quickly as possible. I am so glad we made it, and in this way we were able to make a significant contribution to this historic moment for the Republic of Kosovo.

What is your opinion on the journey of Kosovo about visa liberalisation?

This trip was supposed to be much shorter. The EU left Kosovo waiting too long. Four years after Kosovo fulfilled all the conditions, we finally keep our promise. Since 2024, Kosovo citizens can finally travel towards the EU on holiday, family visits and business trips without having to apply for visas. This is more than a bureaucratic burden removed. It is an important historical moment in Kosovo's European integration.

Do you think the obstacle on this road has been developments in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue?

The European Commission compiled a comprehensive list of reforms and requirements for Kosovo in order to join the EU visa-free regime for many years. In 2018 Kosovo only met all these conditions. Recent developments in Kosovo- Serbia should be treated separately as they were. This process has not affected the work we have done for visa liberalisation in the past months.

After the visa removal, will Kosovo soon become a member of EU mechanisms?

The agreement will enable holders of Kosovo's biometric passport later on from January 1st 2024 onward to travel to the EU without a visa for a 90-day stay period within any 180-day period. This is a step, though delayed, meaningful towards even closer co-operation between the EU and Kosovo.

In addition, the deal reached in Ohrid last week was a welcome development. I do not see any obstacle for the EU to respond to Kosovo's EU membership candidate status bid, and I personally hope Kosovo will then truly receive candidate status soon.