S&D Group welcomes today’s European Commission announcement that Kosovo has made sufficient progress with regards to the fight against corruption and organised crime, and should now be granted a visa-free regime with the European Union. This means that all the conditions of EU visa liberalisation are now fulfilled. Socialists and Democrats have always been at the forefront of the fight for visa-free travel for all of the Western Balkans, including Kosovo.

 

 

"I am very happy that the European Commission has finally confirmed that Kosovo has done its job. There must be no more obstacles for the Kosovar citizens to freely travel for shorts-stays in Schengen area. As a rapporteur I will put the report on visa liberalisation with Kosovo to vote in the European parliament’s Civil liberties committee immediately after the summer break. I call on the member states to do their job too, and adopt the necessary regulation as soon as possible.

 

“Kosovars, just like other Western Balkans citizens, deserve to travel to Europe freely. This is important not only for political and economic cooperation between Kosovo and EU, but also for people to people contact in particular for the youth.

 

“Of course lifting visa requirements is not an easy process. Therefore, It's of crucial importance that Kosovo continues the implementation of the criteria on the ground. A final decision will be in the hands of the governments of the EU and we need to make sure that Kosovo is truly ready to abolish visas for its citizens. The S&Ds will be on your side!”