a minute agoLong road for Kosovars visa liberalisation process, 12 years of waiting
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)The European Parliament has voted for visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens on Tuesday, while the following day, on April 19th, the legal act for visa liberalisation is expected to be signed, while the only step that needs to be taken is the publication of the decision in the European Union Official Journal and entry into force [...]
However, unlike other countries in the region, Kosovo has taken 12 years from launching dialogue for visa liberalisation to free movement in the Schengen area.
The visa liberalisation process for Kosovo on the part of the European Parliament has lasted the longest in the history of the visa liberalisation process, since the Western Balkan states took 2 to 3 years.
Northern Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia took only two years from the launch of a visa liberalisation dialogue to the free movement of their citizens in the Schengen area. Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 years.
Kosovo's same fate on visa liberalisation shares with Ukraine, though official Kiev took only 9 years of dialogue process with the EU to the Ukrainian free movement in the Union.
The EU Council of Ministers has approved visa liberalisation for Kosovo with a simple majority last month.
It is now clear that the implementation of the decision will not be postponed further than January 1st of 2024.
This issue has been connected to the E system. TIAS of travel to Europe, with its entry into force respectively.
Since the deadline for ETIAS functionalisation has been extended to 2024, visa removal for Kosovo citizens is expected to take place on 1 January next year.
How are the travel rules?
The rules will allow Kosovars to travel visa-free to the EU for a 90-day period in each 180-day cycle. Under the position of the Council,
Under the Council's stance, exemption from visa requirements will be implemented by the starting date of the European Information System and Travel Authority (ETIAS) and, in any case, no later than January 1st, 2024.
In announcing the Council for visa liberalisation for Kosovo, Kosovo has reportedly made extremely important progress in all visa liberalisation stations, including areas of document security, borders, migration, public order, and fundamental rights related to freedom of movement.
Based on these results, the Commission had proposed lifting visas for Kosovars.
Kosovo's even crossing on visa-free travel means that the entire Balkans will be in the same visa regime in relation to the EU.
Until January 1st 2024 arrives, the Commission will continue to monitor implementation of EU requirements.
