Visa-free travel across Europe was recommended for Kosovar nationals by the European Commission on Wednesday.
The call to relax travel requirements for Kosovars came on the same day the executive asked the European Parliament and member states to agree to lift visa requirements for Turkish nationals visiting the Schengen zone.
“Today we follow up on our commitment to propose visa-free travel to the EU for the people of Kosovo,” Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said at a news conference in Brussels.
“This is the result of the hard work and successful efforts of the Kosovo authorities in achieving far-reaching and difficult reforms in the justice and home affairs area and beyond, impacting areas such as the rule of law and justice reform.”
Once the proposal has been adopted, more than 1.8 million Kosovars will be able to travel freely in Europe’s Schengen area, which includes most EU members, for up to 90 days in a six-month period.
The commission confirmed that Kosovo had met all the requirements but added the caveat that the government must finally resolve a border dispute with Montenegro and strengthen its record against organized crime and corruption.
Kosovo, which initiated steps toward EU membership last year, was the last country in the western Balkans to receive visa exemption.
In a series of social media posts, Kosovar President Hashim Thaci said: “We will now travel freely in our own shared continent. This is not a reward. This is a merit for all Kosovars, reforms pay off!”
He added: “After decades of isolation, there will be no more waiting in front of embassies, there will be no rejections.”
Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign affairs envoy, said she would visit Pristina on Thursday “to celebrate and work on the way ahead”.