Paneuropa Austria Welcomes EU Visa Liberalisation for Ukraine – Now Kosovo Must Follow!
The European Union’s decision to abolish visa requirements for Ukraine from June 2017 has met with the full approval of the Paneuropa Movement Austria. At the same time, there is hope for imminent visa liberalisation for Kosovo!
“The abolition of visa requirements for Ukraine was a long overdue decision,” commented Karl von Habsburg, President of the Paneuropa Movement Austria, on yesterday’s decision. For Paneuropa, the oldest European unification movement, freedom of movement and the associated abolition of visa requirements for European citizens is one of the most vital principles. From a Paneuropean perspective, visas for European citizens within Europe are among the last remnants of the Cold War’s wall-building policies.
In recent years, Paneuropa has repeatedly emphasised Ukraine’s European perspective and pointed to the necessity of reforms, such as the eradication of corruption and the establishment of the rule of law. The progress achieved was ultimately the deciding factor for EU member states to resolve upon lifting travel restrictions. “The fact that Ukraine is capable of such extensive reforms in the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and decentralisation within just a few years commands respect,” says a pleased Rainhard Kloucek, welcoming the decision. Paneuropa also advocates for an EU accession perspective for Ukraine.
The removal of travel restrictions for Europeans within Europe has been part of the Paneuropa Union’s programme since its founding in 1922. Most recently, at its General Assembly in Strasbourg in 2006, the Paneuropa Union took a clear stance on travel restrictions: “The Paneuropa Union is committed to the principle of freedom of movement for Europeans within Europe. We therefore demand the abolition of all bureaucratic and other barriers to travel – especially visas – for the citizens of all European states within Europe,” it stated then – and that remains true today.
The promised visa-free travel for Kosovo has not yet been approved. Internal political disputes have delayed the full implementation of the criteria; new elections are scheduled for June. “It is unacceptable that Kosovars were able to travel more freely in Europe with a Yugoslav passport than they can today as citizens of an independent, European state,” says Philipp Jauernik, Chairman of Paneuropa Youth Austria, explaining: “Austria has supported Kosovo from the very beginning. If we want Kosovo to remain European and not be dominated by Turkey, we must finally treat Kosovars as European citizens!”
