Paneuropa Austria Congratulates Kosovo on Visa Liberalisation
A long-standing demand of the Paneuropean Union becomes reality: From 2024, visa liberalisation for citizens of Kosovo will come into force.
The Paneuropa Movement Austria is pleased with the European Parliament’s vote on visa liberalisation for citizens of Kosovo. The MEPs voted in favour of the proposal, and since the Council had already given its approval, Kosovo’s years of waiting have finally come to an end.
Secretary General Rainhard Kloucek extends his sincere congratulations and emphasises: “Freedom of travel for Europeans within Europe is one of the most visible benefits of European unification. What we need now is a new dynamic in enlargement policy for the Western Balkan countries, but also for the expansion of the Schengen area.”
For Vice-President Stefan Haböck, visa liberalisation marks the end of a long injustice, as Kosovo was the only country in the Western Balkans that previously had a stricter visa regime. Due to persistent blockades by the Council (see North Macedonia) and a lack of interest in enlargement policy, the disappointment of the people in the region grew. “The decision also shows that states – partly due to the war against Ukraine – are finally acting geopolitically together,” says Haböck, who positively highlights that the EU is now making more intensive efforts to resolve disputes between Serbia and Kosovo.
“European conflicts must be resolved within and through a united Europe; this must be the aspiration of European policy,” Kloucek and Haböck agree.
Visa exemption will apply from the entry into force of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and is expected to be effective from January 2024 at the latest. Citizens of the Republic of Kosovo will then be able to enter the EU visa-free for up to 90 days.
The European Commission had already proposed visa liberalisation in 2016, and the European Parliament approved it in 2018. Member states blocked it until 2023 and imposed significantly more requirements for visa liberalisation on Kosovo than on all other states previously.
