A Disgrace for Austria and Europe
EU member states are blocking visa liberalisation for Kosovo. Austria included. This thwarts previous Balkan policy. A commentary by Karl von Habsburg.
No country has had to meet such a wealth of requirements for visa liberalisation as the Republic of Kosovo. The country, which declared its independence ten years ago (as a result of a war of a genocidal nature caused by the Serbian tyrant Slobodan Milosevic), is the only country in the South-East European region whose citizens still require a visa to travel to the EU. Countries such as Spain even refuse to recognise the Schengen visa. The final task to be fulfilled by Kosovo was the ratification of the border agreement with Montenegro. After much domestic political turbulence, this hurdle was cleared in the first half of 2018.
On 18 July, the European Commission published its report on visa liberalisation for Kosovo. At the time, the Commission confirmed that Kosovo met all requirements. Among other things, the report also states that the Republic of Kosovo has made progress in the fight against organised crime and corruption. This was followed in September by a vote in the European Parliament, which also spoke out in favour of visa liberalisation for Kosovars. The Paneuropean Movement Austria commented on the decision in a press release: “Now that the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg has approved the positive report by MEP Tanja Fajon, the member states – i.e. the Council – are now called upon to make the proposal a reality quickly.” Likewise, the demand was made that “the remaining five EU states finally recognise the independence of Kosovo.”
Yet it is precisely this Council, the EU member states, that is now blocking progress. Not only the usual suspects (those five EU countries that refuse to recognise Kosovo’s independence out of narrow-minded considerations) are opposed, but countries like France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Austria are also applying the brakes. The blocking positions of Germany and Austria are particularly problematic. Regarding France and Holland, it is merely interesting that both French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte are counted among the liberals who so enjoy stylising themselves as the hope for Europe. Germany is one of the strongest countries in the EU and is therefore vital for the path to be taken. And Austria, as the Council Presidency, could make a significant contribution to rapid visa liberalisation with a clear stance that would correspond to the country’s previous policy in the Balkans.
This renders both the EU as a whole and Austria incredible. With the relatively harsh catalogue of criteria for Kosovo, the EU gave the country clear requirements that had to be met. These requirements have been fulfilled by the Republic of Kosovo. Therefore, a united Europe must now deliver if it wishes to appear as a credible political entity. If it fails to deliver, this failure only plays into the hands of those who want to divide Europe. This is something that a French president, who recently appeared in Slovakia as a European schoolmaster, as well as a German or Austrian interior minister, should understand.
Austria, according to the promise of this federal government, would remain a reliable partner, especially for the countries of South-East Europe. A blocking stance against the visa liberalisation of Kosovo therefore not only thwarts this promise of this federal government but also the previous policy in the region. A policy that has been in place for well over 100 years. A policy represented by both my father Otto von Habsburg and Alois Mock, and for which the Paneuropean Union likewise stands. The Austrian Council Presidency is called upon here to work with the utmost urgency for visa liberalisation for Kosovo. Anything else would be a disgrace for Austria and the EU.
The article originally appeared on the website of Karl von Habsburg.
