Augustin Palokaj, Koha Ditore’s Brussels based correspondent, considers that despite the fact that the European Union is not currently willing to remove visas for Kosovo and it even considers returning of visas for some countries, emigration of many Kosovars towards the EU should not be used as a reason not to liberalize visas. It is obvious that visa regime has not prevented emigration and the vast number of these emigrations is from Kosovo. Lack of visa liberalization has only created business for multiethnic criminals.
Palokaj further stresses that a return ticket for illegal emigrants does not cost more than visa expenses for Kosovo population. He considers that the EU possesses capacities and mechanisms to find, and sanction both illegal emigrants and their employers. On the other hand, he says, instead of promising visa liberalization, Kosovo politicians should tell the population that this would not resolve their life problems, it would not reduce poverty, and it would not create possibilities for their employment in Germany or Switzerland. They should tell them that the possibilities for employment after the removal of visas will only reduce. Palokaj considers that such announcements would bring Kosovo closer to visa liberalization. And then, the hopeless people will not become victims of different traffickers and criminals.
