The EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, said an additional roadmap for Kosovo visa liberalisation is needed as a matter of urgency.
Kosovo is the only country in Europe that does not have freedom of movement despite fulfilling all the criteria several years ago. While progress on the matter was anticipated at last week’s EU-Western Balkan summit, the result was disappointing for Kosovo, along with other pressing issues.
During his speech, Varhelyi stressed that Kosovo is waiting for liberalisation and that the EU should move forward with the issue. He added, however, that it is being held up by member states who want clear progress in areas such as organised crime, trafficking and asylum applications.
This is despite the fact that neighbouring countries such as Albania have much higher incidences of these issues yet enjoy visa liberalisation.
France remains the main EU state to oppose visa-free movement for Kosovo’s citizens. Recently, MEP Viola von Crammon stated that French interior minister Gerald Darmanin was holding up the process, not President Emmanuel Macron, as many thought.
Questions to the French Interior Ministry on the matter remain unanswered.
