The European Commission has confirmed the recommendation for the abolition of the visa regime for Kosovo’s citizens, according to a report provided by Radio Free Europe (RFE).

According to the report of the RFE, the European Commission also stressed that the Balkan country has established a strong and legal operational framework in order to fight corruption as well as organized crime and also better manage the migration and security situation.

“Kosovo continued to consolidate progress in key areas identified in the liberalization roadmap. Consequently, the basis for the Commission’s 2018 recommendation to exempt Kosovo nationals from the short-stay visa requirement remains fully valid,” the European Commission pointed out in this regard.

Kosovo’s visa liberalization process started on February 19, 2012; however, it has not been finalized yet, despite the fact that the European Parliament, in 2018, estimated that Kosovo met all the needed criteria for such a process to be finished.

It was also reported that Kosovo’s visa liberalization process would be discussed on October 13 during the European Council working group meeting.

Czech has expressed its support for Kosovo’s visa liberalization process, which has recently been applauded by the Member of the German Bundestag, Thomas Hacker, while he stressed that Germany is doing the right thing by offering its support to Kosovo regarding the visa liberalization process.

Hacker also added that the Balkan country has long deserved the abolishment of the visa regime.

“It is the right thing that the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU is devoting itself to this topic. However, the European Commission’s report should not lead to further and endless discussions. Kosovo deserved visa liberalization a long time ago,” the Member of the German Bundestag pointed out in this regard.

Previously, experts on integration estimated that a decision regarding the lifting of visas for citizens of Kosovo would be made by the end of this year.

These comments came after recent reports that the issue of visa liberalization would be brought to the table at the European Council working group on October 13.