News archive - Commission launches dialogue with Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) on visa free travel
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström launched on January 19, 2012 a visa liberalisation dialogue with Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) in Pristina. The aim of this dialogue is to eventually lift the visa obligation for citizens of Kosovo. This will only be possible, however, once the Government of Kosovo has implemented substantial reforms in key areas such as the security of travel documents; border, migration and asylum management; public order and security issues (notably the fight against organised crime and corruption) and fundamental rights issues related to the freedom of movement.
"Our commitment to visa liberalisation for the citizens of Kosovo is real, and I am very pleased that we can now start making concrete progress towards this goal. I know how important visa free travel is to the citizens of Kosovo and I'm happy that we've now set the ball rolling. Whether and how soon citizens obtain the privilege of visa-free travel will nevertheless depend entirely on the Government of Kosovo's continuing efforts to implement reforms in the rule of law area and on concrete progress made on the ground," said Cecilia Malmström.
In the past, the EU launched visa liberalisation dialogues with five Western Balkans countries in order to allow their citizens to travel to the EU without a visa. Following an assessment on the progress made by these countries in implementing major reforms, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia joined the EU's visa-free regime in December 2009 ( IP/09/1852 ) and Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in November 2010 ( MEMO/10/548 ).
For more information
- Homepage of Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs
- Homepage DG Home Affairs:
Source: European Commission Liaison Office to Kosovo (UNSCR 1244)
- Kosovo*
Entry created by Ines Marinkovic on January 20, 2012
Modified on January 26, 2012
