Now it is high time to act. Backed from today’s AFET-vote I call upon the responsible politicians of all Kosovo parties to make the necessary final steps and to open the door for visa-free travel.
With its vote the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) of the European Parliament today took first step in EP procedures and clearly positioned itself in favour of granting Visa Liberalisation to Kosovo citizens. After the vote Ulrike Lunacek, European Parliament’s Vice-President and standing rapporteur for relations with Kosovo, said:
„Now the ball is in the court of Kosovo parliament and government. I really regret that there is no sufficient progress as regards the fulfilment of the last two criteria: First of all this is the still pending ratification of the border agreement with Montenegro in the Assembly. And the Kosovo government has to deliver further progress on the track record of high level convictions for corruption and organized crime.
Yesterday Tanja Fajon, Rapporteur for Visa Liberalisation in the Committee for Civil Liberties (LIBE) in the lead on Visa Liberalisation, decided to postpone its vote on Visa Liberalisation to September 5. The reason for this postponement is the lack of progress mentioned above. But this decision was also taken in order to assure full support of the LIBE Committee members without endangering this historical step for Kosovo and particularly for its youth.
Now it is high time to act. Backed from today’s AFET-vote I call upon the responsible politicians of all Kosovo parties to make the necessary final steps and to open the door for visa-free travel.
As Standing Rapporteur I am offering my full support and I will do all that is in my power to further support Kosovo on that path and to obtain a positive vote in the European Parliament. I am convinced that the citizens of Kosovo deserves the abolition of visas at soon as possible. The lack of perspective for travel freedoms enjoyed everywhere else in the region is an unacceptable situation that needs to be ended. Now Kosovo politicians hold the key for visa liberalization in their hands. Me, LIBE-Rapporteur Tanja Fajon and the European Parliament are urging them to unlock this door now.“