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Sat, Feb 11 2012
Albania and Bosnia must reform to qualify for visa waiver, MEPs say
A European Parliament plenary session in Brussels, October 2009.
Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina must catch up on the reforms needed to qualify for a short-stay visa waiver like those given to Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, members of the European Parliament’s committee on civil liberties said on October 19 2009.
The European Commission should report on the two countries' progress early in 2010, and also start a dialogue on visas with Kosovo, the MEPs said.
MEPs said that the visa liberalisation dialogue places all countries on an equal footing, without any discrimination, and that the same criteria should apply to all countries concerned.
The European Commission earlier proposed that short-stay (less than three months) visa requirements be waived for Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, but Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina did not qualify.
Committee members said that both should catch up as soon as possible, without lowering the standards common to all.
They said, however, that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina had made further progress since the European Commission published its last assessment.
A European Parliament media statement said that MEPs had approved a compromise amendment to add Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the list of visa-free countries, albeit with a footnote saying that the visa exemption would take effect only after a positive assessment by the EC is approved by the European Council.
Both countries provisionally will remain in the list of those whose citizens require a visa.
MEPs said that the European Commission should also start a "visa dialogue" with Kosovo, so as to establish a roadmap for visa facilitation and liberalisation similar to those established with the Western Balkan countries.
MEP said that that the visa liberalization process should serve as a reference for defining relations with the eastern partners, and particularly with Moldova, where a "significant democratic shift" had taken place.
The committee adopted a report on the issue by MEP Tanja Fajon, which will be put to a plenary vote at the November 12 2009 European Parliament sitting.
The European Commission should report on the two countries' progress early in 2010, and also start a dialogue on visas with Kosovo, the MEPs said.
MEPs said that the visa liberalisation dialogue places all countries on an equal footing, without any discrimination, and that the same criteria should apply to all countries concerned.
The European Commission earlier proposed that short-stay (less than three months) visa requirements be waived for Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, but Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina did not qualify.
Committee members said that both should catch up as soon as possible, without lowering the standards common to all.
They said, however, that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina had made further progress since the European Commission published its last assessment.
A European Parliament media statement said that MEPs had approved a compromise amendment to add Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the list of visa-free countries, albeit with a footnote saying that the visa exemption would take effect only after a positive assessment by the EC is approved by the European Council.
Both countries provisionally will remain in the list of those whose citizens require a visa.
MEPs said that the European Commission should also start a "visa dialogue" with Kosovo, so as to establish a roadmap for visa facilitation and liberalisation similar to those established with the Western Balkan countries.
MEP said that that the visa liberalization process should serve as a reference for defining relations with the eastern partners, and particularly with Moldova, where a "significant democratic shift" had taken place.
The committee adopted a report on the issue by MEP Tanja Fajon, which will be put to a plenary vote at the November 12 2009 European Parliament sitting.
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This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
Valeri, no one is forcing you to see them. Im sure your racist mind could invent scarf-exposing glasses.
Tom, why don't you mind your own business where you are. Let's see how US will do in couple of years. EU is picking up and gathers these countries for better prosperity. Your glorious country and your former president Bush, made more enemies than ever before. Mind your business and don't stick your nose where it does not belong. Best regards from your Albanian friend in US.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
Valeri -
Interesting link here with press release from Bosnian High Representatives past and present.
They sound a bit cross with the constant quarrelling between the three Entities.
http://www.bosnia.org.uk:80/news/news_body.cfm?new
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
Reform meaning convert?
I don't see how a majority Muslim country could mix with Europe without major culture clashes.
Personally I am not looking forward seeing more covered women around Europe - it looks so barbaric...
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
One day and I very much hope that EU States like Romania, Poland and non EU State Croatia will be allowed to come to the US and Canada without Visas.
I have many friends in Poland and Romania and they must be able to come freely to the US and Canada.
Those two Countries do not pose any threat to North America whatsoever, matter of fact they are among the US and Canada's most closest allies even more a reason that Obama and Harper should take action towards lifting Visas for the [...]
Read the full comment Polish and the Romanians.
Romania is by far biggest and most influential in SEE/Balkans excluding CE - Poland takes that position. I would like to see Romania taking more of a dominating role in the region and try not to be so isolated. Its hard for Romania for many reasons but they can do it.
These two extremely poor organised crime countries pose a threat to the EU and its Citizens.
The EU should think about what they are doing and deny them visa free access for the sake of the EU's Citizens
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language