7 minutes agoDutch Eurodeput shows Kosovo visas at stake
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)In April of this year, the entire visa liberalisation process for Kosovo was completed with the decision made by European Union institutions and publication in the official newspaper. Citizens are already waiting for January 1st of next year to be able to move freely to EU countries. For the expected process [...]
For the long-awaited process, a fear arose that it could be affected. A French President Emmanuel Macron's statement sent possible visa waivers back to the discours because of policies between Kosovo and Serbia.
“Finance and Germany are committed and have had an opening, in particular to visa policy or other economic elements, which can be revised if there is no irresponsible policy on both sides”, Macron had said in a speech to French ambassadors.
Dutch Eurodeput Thjis Reuten, who was a rapporteur in the European Parliament for Kosovo visa liberalisation, says they have not received any signals on the issue.
When it comes to entering into force the future visa-free regime for Kosovo from January 1st, 2024 onward, we have received no signal that it is at stake”, he said.
The cases when visas are lifted for an EU state are extreme and Kosovo is not currently under those circumstances. That's what Reuta, who said that can't mean by accident.
“We are not experts for the visa removal procedure, and maybe this is something that should be viewed with the European Commission. We know that the revote of individual visas is possible only under certain conditions and cannot happen by chance”, the Dutch Eurodeput said.
Meanwhile, President Vjosa Osmani yesterday warned of the consequences that could happen if that actually happens.
I would say this is the way to kill dialogue once and for all. If someone wants to have no dialogue anymore, then take such measures, which are punitive measures against the people of Kosovo”, Osman said yesterday.
What did Macro literally say about Kosovo, Serbia and visa policy review?
In his speech to leaders of French missions around the world, the French president, when his turn has come to speak for the Western Balkan region, has suggested that France will continue to be vigilant in this region.
“We will continue to be very vigilant about the security and political situation in the Western Balkans. In this direction, we have built a new guide with Germany and a new proposal for differences that Serbia and Kosovo have. I believe this guide is good. He was supported by the European negotiator and our representative. So we're expecting a clear re-admission from both sides, I'm talking about re-angagement for the expected municipal elections, a Serb re-admission to institutions, recognition of municipalities, especially in the north by Kosovo institutions, a calming of the situation, and I say that because France and Germany are committed and have had an opening, in particular, towards visa policy or other economic elements, which can be revised if there is no irresponsible policy on both sides. But we will continue with our German partners to be very vigilant on this issue and everything related to the stability of the Western Balkans”, France's President Emmanuel Macron has said.
