Free-movement, VISA libealization for Kosovo

Free-movement, VISA libealization for Kosovo

The European Parliament has voted positively for the visa liberalization of Kosovar citizens.

420 MEPs voted in favor, 186 were opposed, and 22 of them abstained from voting, meaning the door to free movement for Kosovar citizens has now been opened.

Before the vote began, European Parliament reporter Tanja Fajon said that Kosovo has fulfilled all the conditions for visa liberalization and therefore requested the vote of all MEPs for the recommendation received by the European Commission since 18 July this year.

The next step following the EP vote is the recommendation of the Council of Ministers of the European Union.

After voting for the visa liberalization took place, Fajon reacted via twitter stating that efforts will continue to finalize the decision.

"Citizens of Kosovo are one step closer to visa-free travel in Europe. I am glad that I received the green light from the European Parliament with the majority being for the negotiations with the European Council on Visa Liberalization for Kosovo.

"The process continues with the governments of the European Union, and I will not stop until we reach it," wrote Tanja Fajon.

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, also welcomed the vote by posting on Twitter, expressing gratitude for the support that the European Parliament gave to the free movement of citizens.

"Soon you will be moving freely throughout Europe," said Haradinaj, thanking the MPs and parliamentary groups of all parties and member states in the European Parliament that supported the right of Kosovar citizens to move freely.

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi said in a reaction on the official website that the citizens of Kosovo today are one step closer towards realizing a basic right in the European family - free movement in the Schengen area.

He expressed the conviction that, within a short period of time, this process will be fully finalized and, after a long and extremely difficult journey, citizens of Kosovo will be equal to all members of the European Union.

Currently, Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans where citizens do not enjoy the right to free movement in the Schengen area.

EMISIONET