"Only Macedonia meets EC visa conditions"

Only Macedonia has met all the conditions for lifting the visa regime, while Serbia and Montenegro have met “the majority,” an EC expert team has concluded. These are the findings contained in the monthly bulletin of the European Stability Initiative (ESI), an NGO that specializes in the Western Balkan states' EU integration process. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic is confident that the European Commission’s (EC) report is positive for Serbia. "Only Macedonia meets EC visa conditions" The European Stability Initiative points out that the EC experts’ evaluation was made after a comprehensive analysis of the areas of security, border control, migration and human rights. The analysis showed that, unlike Macedonia which met all the conditions, Serbia and Montenegro had met “the majority of conditions.” The ESI foresees three possible scenarios for Belgrade and Podgorica: the first where visa requirements will still be lifted, thus “acknowledging the impressive progress made by both countries.” The second less desirable scenario would see liberalization of the visa regime put on hold until all the conditions were met. The third solution would be akin to a compromise, whereby a new analysis of the situation on the ground would be conducted before any final decision was taken in late July. Dacic, however, said the report was positive for Serbia. “The report is, in essence, positive and notes that Serbia has made big progress in virtually all the areas outlined in the Road Map, and even better results will require material-technical and financial equipping of MUP and other ministries engaged in that matter,” he said. The minister said that the report had been put together on the basis of several visits to Serbia by EC expert team responsible for gaging Serbia’s progress towards meeting the conditions for visa liberalization. What remained, he said, was for the member-states to give their opinion on that report, before an official proposal for abolishing visas for Serbian citizens was offered, which would then be considered over the coming months. The expert report will also confirm that Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania have failed to meet the conditions for visa abolition.

"Only Macedonia meets EC visa conditions"

The European Stability Initiative points out that the EC experts’ evaluation was made after a comprehensive analysis of the areas of security, border control, migration and human rights.

The analysis showed that, unlike Macedonia which met all the conditions, Serbia and Montenegro had met “the majority of conditions.”

The ESI foresees three possible scenarios for Belgrade and Podgorica: the first where visa requirements will still be lifted, thus “acknowledging the impressive progress made by both countries.”

The second less desirable scenario would see liberalization of the visa regime put on hold until all the conditions were met.

The third solution would be akin to a compromise, whereby a new analysis of the situation on the ground would be conducted before any final decision was taken in late July.

Dačić, however, said the report was positive for Serbia.

“The report is, in essence, positive and notes that Serbia has made big progress in virtually all the areas outlined in the Road Map, and even better results will require material-technical and financial equipping of MUP and other ministries engaged in that matter,” he said.

The minister said that the report had been put together on the basis of several visits to Serbia by EC expert team responsible for gaging Serbia’s progress towards meeting the conditions for visa liberalization.

What remained, he said, was for the member-states to give their opinion on that report, before an official proposal for abolishing visas for Serbian citizens was offered, which would then be considered over the coming months.

The expert report will also confirm that Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania have failed to meet the conditions for visa abolition.