The Czech Presidency of the European Union has officially put the discussion on visas liberalization for Kosovo on the agenda.

According to the plan it presented, the issue of visas will be discussed on October 13. Of the six Western Balkan countries that remain outside the EU, only Kosovo citizens cannot move freely to European countries, or to what is known as the Schengen area.

In June 2016, the European Commission assessed that Kosovo has met all the criteria for visa liberalization, but set a condition for the finalization of the process to reach an agreement on the ratification of the border demarcation between Kosovo and Montenegro, and to have results in the fight against crime and corruption in Kosovo.

Then in 2018, the European Commission concluded that Kosovo has met all the criteria and proposed visa liberalization. The European Parliament has supported this decision, but some skeptical countries such as France and the Netherlands have not agreed with the Commission’s assessments as a whole.

Among their concerns was the increase in the number of Kosovo residents who would aim at the EU and the misuse of freedom of movement to seek asylum in the European bloc.

Such cases have happened with the citizens of Albania, Georgia and some other countries.

EU officials believe that now there is a “positive moment for the liberalization of visas for Kosovo”, adding that this process “should be finalized within a few months”. If compliance is achieved, visa liberalization will be applied to Kosovo biometric passport holders.

In addition to EU countries, citizens of Kosovo could also move to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

/Klara Ruci/