Kosovo asks for visa liberalisation prior to EU-Western Balkan summit

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti asked for the EU to liberalise visas for its citizens ahead of the EU-Western Balkan Summit.

At the two-day long meeting in Slovenia, Kurti described the delay as a “great injustice”.

“It has been more than three years since the European Commission recommended for the second time visa liberalisation for the citizens of Kosovo. It has been a great injustice…towards our citizens who have suffered a lot,” Kurti told reporters.

Kosovo is the only state in the Western Balkans whose citizens cannot travel visa-free within the Schengen Area. France and The Netherlands are said to be the biggest opponents to visa liberalisation.

Kurti met in June with French President Emmanuel Macron who while supporting the enlargement process, made no commitments towards Kosovo on the visa issue.

Only 22 EU member states recognise Kosovo as a country. The non-recognisers are Slovakia, Romania, Greece, Cyprus, and Spain.

Kosovo’s prime minister met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in a meeting mediated by outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Macron.

(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)