Minister of Internal Affairs Skender Hyseni said in a meeting with EU ambassadors that visa liberalization for Kosovo would put under control and even end irregular migration.

The European Union is experiencing a steep rise in the number of Kosovo citizens smuggling themselves into the affluent bloc, with 10,000 filing for asylum in Hungary in just one month this year compared to 6,000 for the whole of 2013.

Minister of European Integration Bekim Collaku said in an interview for the Austrian paper Der Standard that the Agreement on Stabilisation and Association (SAA) with the EU is in the process of being translated and once completed, “we expect to sign it.” “We believe this will happen very soon. In April or May,” said Collaku. Speaking about the visa liberalization process, Collaku said this is now in the hands of the EU member states. “I would be very disappointed, as would the citizens of Kosovo, if liberalization does not happen by the end of this year,” he said.

Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs Skender Hyseni, accompanied by a delegation of his ministry, made a one day visit to Hungary on Monday and met the Hungarian Interior Minister, Sandor Pinter.  Hyseni and Pinter discussed the issue of irregular migration, but also other issues of particular interest as global terrorism and violent extremism. The ministers agreed that the best long-term solution is visa liberalization. Hyseni also visited the open center in Bicske, where hundreds of irregular migrants from Kosovo are staying.

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.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, met on Tuesday with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Sebastian Kurz. Mustafa informed Kurz about Kosovo's commitment to work in economic development agenda and the European agenda. Mustafa said he will do whatever possible in order to prevent irregular migration, but also to provide better living conditions for the repatriated people. He also stressed that the government of Kosovo is focused to meet the criteria for visa liberalization process, reports Koha.

The Minister of European Integration, Bekim Çollaku, met on Thursday with civil society representatives in Ferizaj/Urosevac, to discuss the progress that has been achieved in the field of Kosovo`s European integration. “We expect to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) during this year.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in cooperation with Kosovo institutions, selected Pristina and Gjakove/Djakovica municipalities as two pilot municipalities to apply the project for help and support to repatriated persons from European countries, and their sustainable reintegration in Kosovo society. Representatives from UNICEF met with municipal officials in Gjakove/Djakovica, and with responsible institutions involved in this process, such as the Center for Social Work.

Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku said on Tuesday that the total number of asylum seekers from Kosovo to the European countries has increased in 2014 when compared to the previous year.  Collaku said that asylum is not justified for Kosovars anymore. "We need to clarify the negative consequences of this phenomenon," said Collaku.

Austrian Ambassador to Kosovo, Johann Brieger said on Tuesday that Austria will not grant asylum to anyone from Kosovo.  Brieger said that Austria grants asylum only to those who are persecuted, who are at risk for life, while economic reasons are not reasons to get asylum in Austria. According to him, the  applications for asylum in Austria are dramatic. "Just from  01 January, we’ve had 287 requests for asylum which is a dramatic increase. In 2014 we had nearly 2000 requests, and, only in December nearly 1000 people have applied for asylum in Austria," said Brieger.