Kosovo’s Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, met today with the Council of Europe Head of Office in Pristina, Isabelle Servoz Gallucci, and informed her that the Kosovo government was making all necessary preparations to apply for membership of the Council of Europe. “I also notified Gallucci about our two priorities in the European agenda: the visa liberalization process and the signing of the Stabilization/Association Agreement.

Kosovo’s European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, said on Tuesday that the visa liberalization for Kosovo is a priority and that this issue is to the final stage. "Kosovo has only three weeks' time to fulfill the criteria for visa liberalization roadmap," Collaku said. He stressed that apart from the visa liberalization priority, other priorities for Kosovo include the membership in the EU and NATO. He added that the people of Kosovo must not abuse the visa liberalization once it is granted to Kosovo. “We all have to respect the rules,” Collaku said.

The Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkevics, during his visit to Kosovo on Thursday said that the recent statements of Belgrade officials barring the visit of Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci to Serbia, are against the Pristina – Belgrade dialogue. According to him, such statements do not help the process of normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. "Politicians on both sides have to abide by such statements," said Minister Rinkevics.

Kosovo’s Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, said on Thursday that the resolution adopted by European Parliament on Wednesday gives Kosovo strong support to the European prospects and that the European Parliament remains one of the most supportive institutions of Kosovo and its European integration process.  Collaku added that Kosovo government welcomes the recommendations contained in this resolution dealing with reforms in the areas of rule of law, justice, public administration and  commitment to fighting organized crime and corrup

Five EU states still refuse to recognise Kosovo as an independent state, but progress has nevertheless been made in efforts to normalise relations between Serbia and Kosovo through EU-supported talks. In an interview with Tena Prelec, Bekim Çollaku, Kosovo’s Minister of European Integration, discusses the recognition issue, high levels of migration into the Schengen Area from people in Kosovo, and the on-going talks with Serbia.

The European Union Commissioner for Migration, Internal Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said on Tuesday that very soon there will be some good news regarding visa liberalization for Kosovo. “Only with real results in fighting high-level corruption, and prevention of irregular migration, the EU will help the citizens of Kosovo, to travel without visas,” he said.

Kosovo’s Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, received today a delegation of Baden-Württemberg region of Germany, headed by ministers Silke Krebs and Peter Friedrich, and accompanied by German Ambassador in Pristina, Angelika Viets.The ministers discussed the latest developments in Kosovo, the European agenda and the issue of irregular migration of people of Kosovo in Germany.

Kosovo’s Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, told Radio Kosova that the growing trend of irregular migration might have indirect consequences on European Union’s (EU) decision-making on visa liberalization. “Naturally, irregular migration can cause panic and dissatisfaction among member states of the EU when it comes time to take a decision for Kosovo. We [the government of Kosovo] are alarmed and we are undertaking all appropriate actions to address this issue,” said Collaku.

Bekim Collaku, the Minister of European Integration, today met the working group on visa liberalization. Collaku briefed the relevant institutions on visa liberalization process and was informed on the remaining challenges in this process.  The working group discussed the remaining criteria in the implementation of the roadmap for visa liberalization. "The government of Kosovo has agreed with the European Commission to send a final report on the implementation of the remaining criteria.