EC to propose end of visa regime

The European Commission will propose the abolition of visas for Serbian, Macedonian and Montenegrin citizens by the end of the year, says the EC vice-president.

Izvor: B92

Friday, 05.06.2009.

10:10

Default images

The European Commission will propose the abolition of visas for Serbian, Macedonian and Montenegrin citizens by the end of the year, says the EC vice-president. The EC will propose that the EU’s Schengen visa regime be lifted for citizens of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, said Jacques Barrot, who is the commissioner in charge of justice and internal affairs. EC to propose end of visa regime Barrot told journalists in Luxembourg that the EC and related ministries were still establishing what exactly the Western Balkans countries had achieved on the road map towards visa liberalization. However, he said that he “has a feeling” that the aforesaid three countries had taken great strides towards meeting the conditions set for them. The EC vice-president said that it was likely, though not certain, that a lifting of the visa regime would be proposed for all three countries at the end of the year . Barrot said that the decision could even be taken before the summer, but would most likely wait until the fall. Slovenian Interior Minister Katarina Kresal echoed Barrot's statements, saying that it was completely realistic that citizens of the Western Balkans could travel to the Schengen zone visa-free by January 1, 2010. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that Barrot’s statement was incredibly encouraging. Although the final decision rests with Schengen zone member-states, Djelic is convinced that, with the support of the European Commission, Serbia will be able to get on the white list by the end of 2009. “Mr. Barrot’s statement is a great moment in our fight for the white Schengen, because it comes from the vice-president of the Commission responsible for reporting to the member-states,” Djelic said. “The fact is that he said that he expects, just like Mr. Olli Rehn does, Serbia, along with Montenegro and Macedonia, to get on the white Schengen by the end of the year, which is a great fillip to our country,” he said. “Of course, as I said, Schengen zone member-states have the last word, and the decision of these countries is expected in the fall of this year, but now with the support of the whole Commission, I think that we have a great chance of achieving our goal in the time frame we set,” Djelic said. Barrot, Djelic (FoNet, archive)

EC to propose end of visa regime

Barrot told journalists in Luxembourg that the EC and related ministries were still establishing what exactly the Western Balkans countries had achieved on the road map towards visa liberalization.

However, he said that he “has a feeling” that the aforesaid three countries had taken great strides towards meeting the conditions set for them.

The EC vice-president said that it was likely, though not certain, that a lifting of the visa regime would be proposed for all three countries at the end of the year .

Barrot said that the decision could even be taken before the summer, but would most likely wait until the fall.

Slovenian Interior Minister Katarina Kresal echoed Barrot's statements, saying that it was completely realistic that citizens of the Western Balkans could travel to the Schengen zone visa-free by January 1, 2010.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić said that Barrot’s statement was incredibly encouraging.

Although the final decision rests with Schengen zone member-states, Đelić is convinced that, with the support of the European Commission, Serbia will be able to get on the white list by the end of 2009.

“Mr. Barrot’s statement is a great moment in our fight for the white Schengen, because it comes from the vice-president of the Commission responsible for reporting to the member-states,” Đelić said.

“The fact is that he said that he expects, just like Mr. Olli Rehn does, Serbia, along with Montenegro and Macedonia, to get on the white Schengen by the end of the year, which is a great fillip to our country,” he said.

“Of course, as I said, Schengen zone member-states have the last word, and the decision of these countries is expected in the fall of this year, but now with the support of the whole Commission, I think that we have a great chance of achieving our goal in the time frame we set,” Đelić said.

Komentari 14

Pogledaj komentare

14 Komentari

Možda vas zanima

Podeli: