Visa liberalization for Kosovo and Turkey

The European Commission proposed today to the Council of Ministers of the EU and the European Parliament to introduce a visa-free regime for citizens of Kosovo for stays of up to three months in the EU's Schengen zone, and thus all Kosovars with biometric passports will be able to travel Europe without thinking about visas and papers, writes Patria.

The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, wrote on her Twitter account that she is proud of this proposal from the EC, and that she will be in Pristina tomorrow to celebrate this step forward.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn also commented on this move, stating that the reforms have paid off and that the people of Kosovo deserve it.

- Continue on the European path - wrote Hahn.

Until the final abolition of visas for Schengen countries, Kosovo needs to fulfill two conditions: the parliament needs to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, as well as show results in the fight against organized crime and corruption.

Otherwise, visa liberalization was also proposed today for Turkey, but it needs to meet the EU criteria for a visa-free regime.