European Parliament votes in favor of visa liberalization with Kosovo

European Parliament votes in favor of visa liberalization with Kosovo
 

 The European Parliament has voiced in favor of removing visas with Kosovo, confirming that the country has met all the demands of European institutions.

On Thursday, 331 euro parliamentarians voted pro, 126 voted against visa liberalization and 12 abstentions.

Fajon thanked her colleagues and appealed to the European Council to act as soon as possible to free them from the visa regime as the only isolated country in the region.

The day before, the immigration commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, joined the senior official, considering the length of the process an injustice that is affecting the European perspective of the entire Balkans.

The political will of the MEPs, meanwhile, has pleased Pristina, though the most powerful actors still look forward for more.

The head of government, Ramush Haradinaj, said the denial of the right to travel freely in Europe is discouraging Kosovo's citizens.

"On behalf of the institutions and citizens of Kosovo, we call on the capitals of EU member states to give direction and epilogue to the issue of visa liberalization for Kosovo, as a winning and undisputed right..."

Pristina's access to the Schengen area was initially proposed in September 2016 and was voted by MEPs two years later, but a decision by the European Council not to discuss the issue during the Winter season postponed final the decision-making.

The approval by the Ministers of the European countries would allow Kosovar citizens to travel freely to European Union destinations for a 90-day period every six months for business, tourism or family purposes.
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