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Sat, Feb 11 2012
EU gives Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia visa-free travel from January 2010
WORDS OF WELCOME: European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and EC Vice President Jacques Barrot at their July 15 2009 news conference announcing Schengen visa liberalisation for Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia from January 1 2010.
The European Commission approved on July 15 2009 a decision to allow citizens of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia entry to Schengen countries visa-free from January 1 2010.
Citizens of the three countries who have biometric passports will be able to use the new system.
The European Commission's proposal needs to be approved by the European Council, the body of heads of state and government of EU states, after having consulted the European Parliament.
The Commission said in a statement that it "remains committed" to visa liberalisation for the citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina too.
"However these countries have not yet fulfilled the conditions to be included in today's proposal," the European Commission said.
"If the pace of reforms is maintained and if all the conditions are fulfilled, the Commission could envisage making a new proposal including these countries by mid-2010."
Presenting the Commission's proposal, Vice President of the Commission in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security Jacques Barrot said: "Our proposal brings truly good news to the people of the Western Balkans, in particular to the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of Montenegro and Serbia.
"I know how much visa free travel means to them. Today's proposal is the result of intensive and hard work for the authorities and the people of these countries in meeting the conditions. I congratulate them for this achievement," Barrot said.
European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said: "It is our goal, and our firm conviction, that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina will follow suit soon.
"The roadmap is still valid, and it is still perfectly doable if the authorities of the countries put their full will into delivering now. If this progress continues apace, I believe both countries will soon catch up with their neighbours. If all the conditions are fulfilled, the Commission could envisage making a new proposal, which would include them, by mid-2010," Rehn said.
Granting visa free travel is a cornerstone of the EU's integration policy for the Western Balkans, the European Commission said.
"Facilitating people to people contacts enhances business opportunities and gives the possibility for the people of the region to get to know the EU better.
"However, visa free travel is only possible if the necessary security requirements are met," the Commission said.
It said that this was why the Commission had launched a dialogue on visa liberalisation with the Western Balkans countries.
"On the basis of roadmaps presented by the Commission, the countries have made important progress in improving passport security, in strengthening border controls, in reinforcing the institutional framework to fight organised crime and corruption, as well as in external relations and fundamental rights."
The Commission said that it had been thoroughly monitoring their preparations.
"The conditions are the same for every country," it said.
Macedonia had met the necessary conditions.
For Serbia and Montenegro, the entry into force of the visa waiver would depend on fulfilment of all remaining open benchmarks of their respective roadmaps by the date of adoption of this proposal by the Council.
Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina still need to continue their efforts to get a positive recommendation from the Commission.
"In Albania and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, shortcomings still exist in the institutional framework to fight against organised crime and corruption, in addressing weaknesses in the procedure for delivering passports, and in the areas of border and migration management."
Residents of Kosovo will not yet benefit from visa liberalisation either.
"The technical requirements for visa liberalisation have not yet been met on the territory of Kosovo. The Commission in this regard will continue to work closely with both the Serbian and Kosovo authorities and explore options for addressing the visa issue in the future," the European Commission said.
Radio Srbija said that Schengen visa exemption would mean that citizens of the three countries being admitted to the "white list" in 2010 would be able to travel visa-free to the countries of the Schengen area, which excludes the United Kingdom and Ireland, and would also be able to travel visa-free to non-EU member states Switzerland, Iceland and Norway, as well as EU states that are not members of the Schengen area: Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus.
Citizens of the three countries who have biometric passports will be able to use the new system.
The European Commission's proposal needs to be approved by the European Council, the body of heads of state and government of EU states, after having consulted the European Parliament.
The Commission said in a statement that it "remains committed" to visa liberalisation for the citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina too.
"However these countries have not yet fulfilled the conditions to be included in today's proposal," the European Commission said.
"If the pace of reforms is maintained and if all the conditions are fulfilled, the Commission could envisage making a new proposal including these countries by mid-2010."
Presenting the Commission's proposal, Vice President of the Commission in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security Jacques Barrot said: "Our proposal brings truly good news to the people of the Western Balkans, in particular to the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of Montenegro and Serbia.
"I know how much visa free travel means to them. Today's proposal is the result of intensive and hard work for the authorities and the people of these countries in meeting the conditions. I congratulate them for this achievement," Barrot said.
European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said: "It is our goal, and our firm conviction, that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina will follow suit soon.
"The roadmap is still valid, and it is still perfectly doable if the authorities of the countries put their full will into delivering now. If this progress continues apace, I believe both countries will soon catch up with their neighbours. If all the conditions are fulfilled, the Commission could envisage making a new proposal, which would include them, by mid-2010," Rehn said.
Granting visa free travel is a cornerstone of the EU's integration policy for the Western Balkans, the European Commission said.
"Facilitating people to people contacts enhances business opportunities and gives the possibility for the people of the region to get to know the EU better.
"However, visa free travel is only possible if the necessary security requirements are met," the Commission said.
It said that this was why the Commission had launched a dialogue on visa liberalisation with the Western Balkans countries.
"On the basis of roadmaps presented by the Commission, the countries have made important progress in improving passport security, in strengthening border controls, in reinforcing the institutional framework to fight organised crime and corruption, as well as in external relations and fundamental rights."
The Commission said that it had been thoroughly monitoring their preparations.
"The conditions are the same for every country," it said.
Macedonia had met the necessary conditions.
For Serbia and Montenegro, the entry into force of the visa waiver would depend on fulfilment of all remaining open benchmarks of their respective roadmaps by the date of adoption of this proposal by the Council.
Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina still need to continue their efforts to get a positive recommendation from the Commission.
"In Albania and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, shortcomings still exist in the institutional framework to fight against organised crime and corruption, in addressing weaknesses in the procedure for delivering passports, and in the areas of border and migration management."
Residents of Kosovo will not yet benefit from visa liberalisation either.
"The technical requirements for visa liberalisation have not yet been met on the territory of Kosovo. The Commission in this regard will continue to work closely with both the Serbian and Kosovo authorities and explore options for addressing the visa issue in the future," the European Commission said.
Radio Srbija said that Schengen visa exemption would mean that citizens of the three countries being admitted to the "white list" in 2010 would be able to travel visa-free to the countries of the Schengen area, which excludes the United Kingdom and Ireland, and would also be able to travel visa-free to non-EU member states Switzerland, Iceland and Norway, as well as EU states that are not members of the Schengen area: Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus.
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The Sofia Echo
i hoppe macedonia will joing in 2011 for definetly
that good news for albania and serbia and also bosnia sound good
welcometoharlem.com
sure it will happen i like albanians people they peace mind people
I am from Turkey and hope they will also abolish visas to Turkish Citizens since it is earned right from 1970s. I became so much happy and pleased on behalf of extremely nice people from ALBANIA and BOSNIA and HERS, you all deserve and enjoy with your holiday in Europe. Regards to BALKANS!
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content
Well done EU!!! Well it was about time for Macedonia :)
Lets go on holiday now :)))
hello EU
,,its *nice* to hear that Serbia is on Schengen white list,,,they *deserve* it ,,
they still dont recognize the state of Kosova
well done EU,,
the Serbian *democratic* polititians still have not ask forgivness for crimes in Croatia bosnia and Kosova,,,
OU come on old storie,,,,
yes 10 to 20 years ago,,
hundreds of persons still MISSING in Kosova,,
come on old stories,,,
let the Serbia be in white list
they sufferd so much because worked very hard [...]
Read the full comment in killing people in Balkan,
they are tired now,they need some rest and some care from *democratic* Bruxel////
the still have the most dangerous propaganda in region against their Victims,,
*realy cool of DEMOCRATIC EU * to say that Serbia has fulfilled the so called CONDITIONS to be a Democratic country,,
OUUU yeah
long life to such kind of democracy,,
God bless such democratic Unions,that has such a *high* level human right to protect
specialy for the agreessors
,,Bruxels makes me beleive to say
AGRESSOR IS NOT GUILTY,GUILTY WAS THE VICTIM THAT MAKES HARD TO AGRESSOR THE JOB,THAT MAKES THE AGRESSOR TO REACH AND KILL THE VICTIM,,
THE VICTIM WAS GUILTY,,THEY MUST MAKE SUICIDE NOT ALLOWING SERBIANS TO GET BUSSY WITH THEM
God *BLESS* THIS WHITE LIST,,
GOD BLESS THE AGRESSOR
GOD BLESS SERBIANS,,THEY KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF ORDINARY PEOPLE,,TO SPUNK THEM,,,AND TO WIN A RESPECT OF *DEMOCRATIC* COUNTRIES
GOD BLESS SUCH DEMOCRACY
,,,
For God's Sake those countries,mentioned above aren't even the members or the candidates of Europe Union.I can't see why they don't abolish the strict visa regime against Turkey.Turkey has been candidate of E.U for ages but they don't give even a damn to abolish of Visas.There is no free-movement of Turkey in E.U.We deadly want to explore the bits of Europe but we are always stucked in visa procedurs.Is that fair??
What is wrong with being a muslim??Why is there a racist and religious conflict against Turkey?
Well I am [...]
Read the full comment not a religious person.Very well-educated even have ph degree and have permanent job but I asked to get a visa to visit the Europe.Been some countries of Europe but fed up with waiting in visa queques
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content
when will albania join?
any one knows?
well i am happy for our neighbours to join eu as soon as possible but only thing i am not sure why albania is left out, passports and security is already there these days but europe doesnt like to think so.
ok kosovo as its new country and has progressed very well.
They have put albania bosnia and kosovo cause there majority of popullation is muslim, in albania we dont see others from their religion, we are all brothers and the oldest europians in the middle of mediterranian land. free land
well i wish [...]
Read the full comment them good luck and eu has to be more fair rather than racist.
Can't wait 1st Jan 2010 for Serbia to enter. It has been already too long time in which great and amazing serbian people have been excluded from the huge "west" europe. They should have done this 10 years ago, or actually before the Nato (so, itself the EU and US) bombed illegaly Serbia and give them embargo. Let's turn page immediately!!!! Greeting from Italy
This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained квалификации.
This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained квалификации.
l hope for albanian the same,,l dont understand something,,visa liberation will make easy the travel for ordinary people,,about the BIGGS,,they never need visa,,
europe didnt undertsnd yet,,or is playing FOOL
Too bad the UK and Ireland are excluded... :(
No chance any European country with Muslim majority of population will ever be able to join EU.
Great thing for Serbia to see the rest of Europe after 20 years of darknes! Long live EU! VIVA EU!
While congratulating these countries,i would like to ask-
What will be the impact of this to foreigners living in these countries.Would they enjoy this?
hope the best 4 skopje but dont forget ur name the history u think is yours is was and always will be hellenic.show that you are fair and educated people and stop this nonsense.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
Very happy for our neighbors. Wish that the day that we wiil joing them is not far!
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
This is such a good news for Macedonian people,they really desirve that .
thank goodness Montenegro & Serbia will soon join .this will be a very great opportunity for them to explore the rest of EU countries. cant wait for jan 1 2010...........
"In Albania and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, shortcomings still exist in the institutional framework to fight against organised crime and corruption, in addressing weaknesses in the procedure for delivering passports, and in the areas of border and migration management."
ha!
We hope that Albania will join us too!
Congratulations to our neighbor countries. We hope that for us (Albanians) too