The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee approved today a report drafted by the Deputy President of the EP and Rapporteur for Kosovo, which refers to Kosovo’s progress towards the European Union.
Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku, said in an interview for RTV Dukagjini that the latest by January next year, the people of Kosovo will be able to travel without visas in EU member states. Collaku said Brussels once again confirmed for Kosovo’s European future with the positive vote by the European Parliament’s Committee for Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Çollaku, said he expects good news from today’s meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) regarding the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo. “I think everyone is aware of what are the requirements of EU institutions, including those of the European Parliament, but since this voting is not final, I hope and expect the MEPs to express their support for this stage. This would allow the process to move forward,” said Çollaku.
Several media report that Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, has welcomed the news that the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has adopted the proposal for visa-free travel for Kosovo’s citizens. Mustafa wrote on his Facebook account: “Today we received very good news from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, where the recommendation for visa-free travel for the people of Kosovo was adopted with a majority vote.
The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee has voted today in favour of the proposal for granting visa liberalisation to Kosovo citizens. The news was announced by the European Parliament Vice President and rapporteur for Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek. “It is now time for Kosovo politicians to act,” tweeted Lunacek after the vote. Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Çollaku, hailed the news as an important step towards the final decision for visa liberalisation.
The first debate at the European Parliament on the proposal of the European Commission for granting visa liberalisation for Kosovo is expected to take place this Thursday. Even though the majority of European Parliament members support the view of lifting visa requirements for the people of Kosovo, the voting procedure could extend beyond summer. The newly-appointed European Parliament rapporteur for the visa liberalization for Kosovo, Tanja Fajon, said she has an ambitious visa liberalisation plan.
Kosovo’s Interior Minister Skender Hyseni said he was optimistic that the European Parliament would very soon approve the recommendation of the European Commission to lift the visa regime for the people of Kosovo. According to Hyseni, the European Parliament is expected to vote on the recommendation in 10-12 weeks’ time “and we hope the citizens will be able to move freely by mid-summer or little bit after”.
The European Parliament backed a resolution on Kosovo by 403 votes for to 130 against and 104 abstentions, on Thursday.
The resolution expresses concern over corruption and organised crime and calls for action on drafting a long-promised statute of an Association of Serbian Municipalities.
At the same time, it welcomes progress achieved in the EU-led dialogue with Serbia in 2015, and calls on all sides to implement already reached agreements in good faith.
The European Parliament today adopted a resolution which assesses Kosovo's progress in the EU integration process. The start of EU accession negotiations with Serbia and the progress made in normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo was welcomed by MEPs in two resolutions passed today.
The start of EU accession negotiations with Serbia and the progress made in normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo was welcomed by Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs in two resolutions passed on Thursday. They also stressed that these relations would be strengthened if all EU member states were to recognize Kosovo.