Albanians, Bosnians Get EU Visa-Free Travel
Tirana Times
TIRANA, Nov. 11 – The European Union has unanimously decided to end visa requirements for short visits to the Schengen area for citizens of Albania and Bosnia.
The EU’s Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said Thursday that the European Parliament and member states would now have to approve the proposal, but the next steps are mostly formalities.
The approval reached by EU Interior Ministers on Monday comes despite concerns from some members that the move will increase the number of unfounded asylum requests made in the EU by citizens of the two nations.
The EU abolished visas for the citizens of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia in 2009. Monday’s approval leaves Kosovo _ which is not recognized by all EU members _ as the last area of the Balkans without visa-free travel to the EU.
Though they agreed to scrap visa requirements for Bosnian and Albanian citizens as of next month, the EU ministers also spelled out that the concession could be revoked in case of a sudden influx of migrants.
The decision was reached unanimously after French and Dutch fears that the two countries had not done enough in terms of tightening border controls were addressed by the European Commission.
The EU’s executive said it would keep a close eye on migration flows from all Western Balkan countries by creating ‘a follow-up mechanism’ and stating that ‘if necessary (it could) propose the suspension of visa-free travel.’
That possibility existed already, but ministers wanted the commission to make the threat explicit, diplomats said, adding that any revoking of visa-free travel would have to be approved by the European Parliament as well as by EU states.
If such problems arise, the EU can “take all the necessary measures, all the way up to suspending the visa liberalization mechanism,” said Belgian Migration State Secretary Melchior Wathelet, who chaired the meeting.
Last year, the EU abolished visas for the citizens of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, and several member states complained of a sudden rise in illegal migration and unfounded claims for asylum from the impoverished nations to the wealthy EU nations.
“We do not want to repeat this story for Albania and Bosnia,” Wathelet said.
‘This has been of major concern for the EU member states and prompted the European Commission to set up a post-visa monitoring process that aims at preventing risks of misuse and abuse of the asylum procedures,’ EU home affairs commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said in a statement.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha called it “the best message Europe sends to Albania”
“Such a decision is the best postcard Albanian citizens get for the festivities of the end of the year,” Berisha said at a news conference. “Such a decision is also a good omen for the Albanian economy.”
Berisha assured the EU member countries of his government’s full readiness to closely cooperate “so that this major act does not create the smallest problem.”
President Bamir Topi also hailed the decision and said everyone had to celebrate Monday, adding besides an appeal to the political parties to compromise.
Opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama also hailed the decision but reminded everyone of all those Albanians who had died during the communist regime trying to cross the border, or during the post-communist period trying to reach a better life in western Europe. Ambassador Eugen Vollfarth of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe also hailed the decision Monday.
“This is a joyful and truly historic day for all Albanian citizens. The decision taken today in Brussels is a clear vote of confidence by all EU member states and I am sure that every citizen will now make good use of this newly achieved freedom in a full and responsible manner.”
The visa-free regime, giving biometric passport holders the possibility to enter the Schengen zone for up to three months, is expected to be applied as of mid-December.
Visa liberalization is a prized goal for EU neighbors. Monday’s decision means that Kosovo – whose contested states makes it a special case – is due to become the only Western Balkan country excluded from the privilege.
The Schengen area currently encompasses all EU states except Britain, Ireland, Romania and Bulgaria, plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.
