Can visas be returned, four scenarios when the suspension mechanism can be activated

All of you who plan to exploit the right of visa-free travel to the Schengen area, starting in January 2024, should also consider certain rules. On the contrary, the European Union has what is called: Visa suspension mechanism.

With this mechanism, a non-EU country, as in this case Kosovo, could temporarily be suspended from visa exemption if it makes misappropriations.

There are four scenarios when the visa suspension mechanism will be activated: Increasing irregular migration, demand for low-level asylum accession, declining co-operation for repatriation, and in the event of increased risk for security of EU member states.

The key rule that citizens should take into account is that visa liberalisation allows visa-free travel to up to 90 days - within six months - in either of the 27 members of the Schengen area.

Visa-free travel should serve for tourist visits, family or similar issues, and assets for work or other benefits.

EU Agency for Asylum data shows that only during the year 2022 over 3 thousand Kosovo citizens have applied for asylum in the countries of this bloc, and only 8 per cent have been recognised.

The International Organisation of Migration does not foresee migration crises from Kosovo, following visa liberalisation. Evental problems, it says, can be solved through increased consciousness.

The Kosovo government says it has prepared a awareness campaign for citizens about free movement, and that activities in this direction will begin next months.

Of the Western Balkan countries, Montenegro, Serbia and Northern Macedonia enjoy the right of free movement from 2009, meanwhile, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2010.

Even though it has warned the disses of possible abuses, the EU has not restored visas for any of these countries. / REL