EUROPEAN COMMISSION

PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 14 June 2012

Commission delivers visa roadmap to Kosovo

government
Today, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström handed the roadmap
for visa liberalisation over to the Kosovo government. This document sets out a
comprehensive list of reforms that Kosovo will be requested to implement to fulfil
requirements related to the freedom of movement, such as reintegration and readmission,
document security, border and migration management, the fight against organised crime
and corruption and fundamental rights. The pace of the visa dialogue will depend on the
Kosovo government’s progress in fulfilling these requirements.
"I am particularly pleased to be able to present this eagerly anticipated document to the
Kosovo government. Today’s handover ceremony brings the citizens of Kosovo a step
closer to visa-free travel. The roadmap to visa liberalisation sets out reforms that the
Kosovo government will need to implement to create a secure environment for visa-free
travel. Whether and how soon visa-free travel becomes a reality depends on the
government’s commitment to implementing these difficult reforms on the ground. The
European Commission stands ready to assist the Kosovo authorities in their efforts,” said
Cecilia Malmström.
In the past, the EU launched visa liberalisation dialogues with five Western Balkans
countries to allow their citizens to travel to the EU without visas. Following an assessment
on the progress made by these countries in implementing major reforms, the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia joined the EU's visa-free regime
in December 2009 (IP/09/1852) and Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in November
2010 (MEMO/10/548).

Background
In the margins of the handover ceremony, Commissioner Malmström met Minister for
European Integration Vlora Çitaku, Minister of Internal Affairs Bajram Rexhepi, Chair of
the Parliamentary Committee on European Integration Lutfi Haziri, Deputy Minister for
European Integration Gëzim Kasapolli, Mayor of Pejë/Peć Ali Berisha, Mayor of Istog/Istok
Haki Rugova, Mayor of Graçanicë/Gračanica Bojan Stojanović and Mayor of Gjilan/Gnjilane
Qemajl Mustafa.
The state of play of the visa roadmap was recently discussed at the launch of the
Structured Dialogue on the Rule of Law with Kosovo by Commissioner for Enlargement
Štefan Füle and Commissioner Malmström with Kosovo representatives on 30th May in
Brussels.

IP/12/605
Today, the European Commission and the Kosovo government also held a first Senior
Officials’ Meeting to discuss next steps in the visa dialogue with Kosovo. The government
will now be requested to present a comprehensive overview of legislation and recent
reforms in the areas covered by the visa roadmap.
The Commission will continue to monitor progress by Kosovo in fulfilling the benchmarks
of the roadmap, including by drafting regular reports.

For more information

Homepage of Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/malmstrom/welcome/default_en.htm
Homepage DG Home Affairs:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/index_en.htm

Contacts :
Michele Cercone (+32 2 298 09 63)
Tove Ernst (+32 2 298 67 64)