Sat, Nov 21 2009

Schengen visa liberalisation for Western Balkans a step closer

Mon, Jun 15 2009 18:55 CET 3488 Views 12 Comments
Schengen visa liberalisation for Western Balkans a step closer

IN LUXEMBOURG: Czech Republic foreign minister Jan Kohout, left, who chaired the EU foreign ministers June 15 meeting, with Austria's European affairs minister Michael Spindelegger, centre, and Slovenia's foreign minister Samuel Zbogar.


The European Commission will come up with a legislative proposal before its summer break to provide for Schengen visa-free travel for citizens of Western Balkans countries that meet the criteria, commissioner Olli Rehn said in Luxembourg on June 15 2009.
 
He was speaking at an EC news conference after Czech foreign minister Jan Kohout announced that EU foreign ministers had agreed to encourage the EC to come up with proposals so that all Western Balkans countries meeting the criteria should be allowed access to a liberalised visa system "ideally" by the end of 2009.
 
The countries affected are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. However, not all countries have made complete progress to be exempt from Schengen visa requirements, meaning that only some could benefit if indeed a decision is made to extend the Schengen "white list" by the end of this year.
 
Media reports in late May 2009 said that Macedonia had fulfilled all the conditions to allowed eased access to visas to European Union countries but other Western Balkans states would have a further wait.
 
If the visa system is eased in the case of Macedonia, the change would be made on January 1 2010 at the earliest and March 1 at the latest.
 
Macedonia has fulfilled criteria including document security and steps against illegal migration.
 
At the time, news website B92 said that according to the unofficial version of the European Commission’s report on easing the visa system, Serbia had completed most of the conditions required for liberalisation.
 
European Stability Initiative Senior Analyst Alexandra Stiglmayer said on May 27 that it was possible that Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro would enter the visa-free regime for the traveling to countries of the European Union in January 2010.
 
Kohout told the June 15 news conference that the EU foreign ministers meeting had been given a briefing by Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz.
 
Asked about Brammertz’s briefing and the question of putting the EU Stabilisation and Agreement with Serbia into effect, Kohout said "we are closer to better understand what we can do…I expect the European Council will once again address this issue".
 
Rehn, asked about the implications of the visa liberalisation for Kosovo – which in February 2008 declared independence from Serbia and issues its own passports, but which is not recognised as independent by all EU states – said that the question would be addressed in the context of a feasibility study as part of a report on possible EU expansion later this year. "We want to work for the Europeanisation of Kosovo," Rehn said.
 
Rehn welcomed the EU ministers’ stance on visa liberalisation for the Western Balkans: "The EC has long been committed to visa-free travel for the people of the Western Balkans," he said, especially bearing in mind the young people of the region who wanted to go abroad to study.
 
Ahead of the meeting, Serbian deputy prime minister for European Integration, Bozidar Delic, who led a Serbian delegation to the EU ministers meeting, said that key progress would be made if the EU Council of Ministers makes a joint decision for the first time to support Serbia on the road to the so-called white Schengen list, Serbia’s B92 said.

"We don’t expect any kind of political conditions, one great technical job is now ahead of us, but, as we saw in Brussels on Friday, commissioners Rehn and Barrot said that the Commission will give a recommendation by the end of July for abolishing visas for our citizens, as well as for Macedonia and Montenegro," Delic said.

"They only thing left is to reach a consensus between the member-states of the European Union. What is expected is that all the member-states take the same stance regarding the white Schengen for the first time," he said.

Comments

Anonymous INAMNYC Mon, Sep 21 2009 19:12 CET

This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained квалификации.

Anonymous Valeri Tue, Aug 18 2009 16:45 CET
Inappropriate comment?

This is what Serbs and Albanians, and most of that ridiculous collection called Yugoslavia, are all about - bunch a school yard bullies, that have thankfully transfared their hate to the internet, where it does less damage.
To the "makedonian" nationalists:
wh
Wanna find your herritage? You are looking at below!
Empty nationalism, lots of hate and history shaped as a heavy stick to beat each other on the heads.



Anonymous Jan Paricka Tue, Jul 21 2009 15:53 CET
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It was about the time. Congratulations, Macedonia!

Anonymous Gjergji Mon, Jul 13 2009 20:58 CET
Inappropriate comment?

To penelope!

You are such a fool people believing this bullshit of organ traffic!
I have nothing against progressive people, but criminals are criminals!

Anonymous penelope Mon, Jul 13 2009 16:55 CET
Inappropriate comment?

If people do not have anything interesting or remotely clever to say please spare all of us from your silly, national and ridiculous comments. Take a history book not the daily media and teach yourselves some proper history.

Anonymous penelope Mon, Jul 13 2009 16:52 CET
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To alb-control... I think your comment is stupid and your name says it all.

To Gjergiji... first learn your history of suffering and then comment. Albanians did organ trafficking during the whole so called suffering war! I highly doubt they suffered at all.

Anonymous MISHA Wed, Jun 24 2009 01:56 CET
Inappropriate comment?

Serbs are Ok people,suffering for last 2o years due to bed leaders and
wrong politic and albanians in Kosovo
took advantage of such a situation so
now kosovo serbs are in horrible situation.Be objective,do not take one side,try yo be well informed,

Anonymous alb-patrol Tue, Jun 16 2009 18:07 CET
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how on earth free visa for serbs?
they should be the last of last..
submit the criminals serbia

Anonymous Axel Tue, Jun 16 2009 10:42 CET
Inappropriate comment?

@Gjergji: what is base u made ur conclusion on? did u lived there?

Anonymous Realistic Tue, Jun 16 2009 05:21 CET
Inappropriate comment?

Serbia wants to be a European nation and it is doing what it can...Karadzic is out, Mladic is on his way...the white list will only help speed things up

Anonymous Gjergji Tue, Jun 16 2009 00:12 CET
Inappropriate comment?

Serbia shouldn`t be compensated without first extraditing the war criminals. Serbia isn`t a constructive element in the region! Serbia is like a small child that cries every day so his faller could buy him a toy! Instead Albanians suffered a lot, are suffering and still have more to suffer!

Anonymous filip of macedonia Mon, Jun 15 2009 23:44 CET
Inappropriate comment?

no more visa walls for macedonians

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