EC: Visa liberalisation scommerce for Serbia's passports

The visa liberalisation that was approved for Kosovo applies only to Kosovo passport owners, but not to those Kosovo citizens who have passports issued by Serbian authorities, European Commission officials confirmed.

spokeswoman Anita Hyper said in a written statement to Radio Free Europe that “visa regime will remain valid only for those citizens in Kosovo whose passports are issued by the Ministry of Interior Administration of the Republic of Serbia”.

Serbs in Kosovo have been excluded from visa liberalisation even when Serbia was lifted in 2009.

However, the European Commission said they are working to make sure that all citizens of the Western Balkan region enjoy freedom of movement in what is known as the Schengen area and consists of dozens of European states.

As we move forward with visa liberalisation for Kosovo, the EU is determined to ensure that all citizens of the Western Balkans get involved in the EU's visa-free regime, provided the circumstances for safe travel --” exist, Hyper said.

After signing the legal act for visa liberalisation for Kosovo on April 19th, European Parliament's visa rapporteur, Thijs Reuten, also said that visa removal applies only to Kosovo passports.

The “ [the legislation] has been carefully formulated, as it says, nothing more, nothing less: Kosovo citizens with documents issued by Kosovo authorities can travel freely”, he said.

The decision on free movement for Kosovo citizens is expected to take effect from January 1st to 2024.

Serbia's citizens with residential address in Kosovo, the passports are issued to the Co-ordination Administration, which operates within the Serbian Interior Ministry.

In 2009, Serbia has had to form this body to ensure visa liberalisation for itself.

Before that time, Serbian citizens living in Kosovo have received passports at the Police Directorates, which official Belgrade has moved to the cities of Serbia after the war in Kosovo in 1999.

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