Les Balkans occidentaux se rattachent à l’espoir de lever les restrictions aux visas dans l’UE[en] 

Except for Croatia, all Western Balkan countries - and Turkey - are included on the so-called Schengen 'black' visa list, which requires citizens to obtain visas before travelling to the EU's border-free area. 

Historically, the citizens of the former Yugoslavia under Tito enjoyed visa-free travel throughout Europe, and an important diaspora was established over time in many EU countries. However, amid a deteriorating political and economic climate, Yugoslavia found itself on the EU's first common 'black' visa list, adopted in 1995. 

Last year, the European Commission put in place a 'roadmap' and 'benchmarks' for visa liberalisation for Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and lastly Bosnia and Herzegovina (EurActiv 26/05/08). Kosovo appears to be a 'sui generis' case, as it is not recognised by all EU countries. 

Ever since the EU's common 'black' visa list was established, only two countries managed to get visa requirements lifted ahead of their accession – Bulgaria entered a visa-free regime with the Schengen countries in April 2001, followed by Romania eight months later. 

Turkey is a special case. It does not benefit from the same visa liberalisation effort by the Commission as the Western Balkan countries. Turkey, in fact, has accepted the principle of a permanent derogation on labour movement (EurActiv 20/11/08). 

A report by the Commission on the advance of the Western Balkan countries towards visa liberalisation is due on 18 May. 

Hoping to avoid another surge in nationalism and fend off anti-European resentment among their population, Western Balkan countries are viewing elimination of visa barriers with the EU as a growing priority, diplomats from applicant countries told EurActiv. 

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the ambassador of one Western Balkan country admitted that as Europe struggles to improve the functioning of its institutions, politicians throughout the region have understood that, except for Croatia, EU membership is not a goal that can be attained in the medium term. 

However, delaying EU entry prospects would require in return reassurances for Balkan countries that they have not been "forgotten", the diplomat added, saying scrapping visa requirements would seem to be the most suitable step. 

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić recently said that his country had met all the conditions of its EU accession roadmap, and thus its citizens could expect "good news", the BETA news agency reported. 

However, the mood in many Western capitals is not in favour of lifting the visa requirement, with countries like France and Germany preferring the term "visa liberalisation", which entails easing visas delivery for students, scholars, businessmen and the like. Visa-free travel for the entire region seems to be only a long-term goal, sources told EurActiv. 

In addition, the unresolved conflict in Kosovo makes it difficult for the EU to decide on lifting the visa regime for Belgrade. If visas were abolished, ethnic Albanians from Kosovo would be able to claim Serbian passports, an EU official explained. 

In the same way, if one of the countries in the region were able to lift visa barriers earlier than others, it could have a destabilising effect as ethnic minorities from across the Western Balkans would likely try to claim passports. 

If Macedonia were to break the visa barrier, for instance, thousands of Albanians and Kosovars might line up in Skopje for passports, the official elaborated. He did not deny that EU countries generally fear waves of ethnic Albanian immigration.