Serbia, EU sign visa, readmission deals

Serbia and the EU signed on Monday agreements regulating the relaxation of visa requirements and readmission. European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini and Portuguese Foreign Minister Ruiz Carlos Pereira today signed visa relaxation and readmission agreements with the interior ministers of Serbia, Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Serbia, EU sign visa, readmission deals “Signing the agreements represents a very significant political decision that will lead to closer cooperation between the EU and the western Balkan states in the sensitive fields of immigration and mobility,” Frattini said. The endorsement of these agreements together with tangible progress in the basic domains of justice, freedom and security will enable the European Commission to start a comprehensive dialogue on the possibility of introducing visa-free regimes for western Balkan states in the future. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn welcomed the move, pointing out that it would help improve contacts between the citizens of the EU and the Balkans. The aim of the agreement is to ease the visa issuing procedures for Balkan citizens, particularly to frequent travelers, all the while setting clear terms for curbing illegal immigration. According to the agreements, visas will cost EUR 35 each, instead of EUR 60, and certain categories of applicants may obtain them for free. Holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from getting visas. The visa regime agreement will open the way for a visa-free regime and put Serbia on the EU's so-called white Schengen list as soon as the conditions for it are created, EU Council of Ministers officials said today. The readmission agreement outlines clear commitments and procedures for the authorities of the Western Balkans’ states and EU members, regarding methods of deporting people illegally residing on these states’ territories. It means that Serbian citizens illegally residing in EU states will be returned to Serbia. And the latest estimate says there are 100,000 such people. Both agreements should be ratified by the end of the year and come into force on Jan 1, 2008. At the parliament Monday, Interior Minister Dragan Jocic who signed the agreement on behalf of Serbia, announced that Serbia would soon get new passports with built-in protective measures, which was to enable the placing of Serbian nationals on the white Schengen list as soon as possible. Franco Frattini, Ruiz Carlos Pereira (Tanjug/EPA)

Serbia, EU sign visa, readmission deals

“Signing the agreements represents a very significant political decision that will lead to closer cooperation between the EU and the western Balkan states in the sensitive fields of immigration and mobility,” Frattini said.

The endorsement of these agreements together with tangible progress in the basic domains of justice, freedom and security will enable the European Commission to start a comprehensive dialogue on the possibility of introducing visa-free regimes for western Balkan states in the future.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn welcomed the move, pointing out that it would help improve contacts between the citizens of the EU and the Balkans.

The aim of the agreement is to ease the visa issuing procedures for Balkan citizens, particularly to frequent travelers, all the while setting clear terms for curbing illegal immigration.

According to the agreements, visas will cost EUR 35 each, instead of EUR 60, and certain categories of applicants may obtain them for free. Holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from getting visas.

The visa regime agreement will open the way for a visa-free regime and put Serbia on the EU's so-called white Schengen list as soon as the conditions for it are created, EU Council of Ministers officials said today.

The readmission agreement outlines clear commitments and procedures for the authorities of the Western Balkans’ states and EU members, regarding methods of deporting people illegally residing on these states’ territories.

It means that Serbian citizens illegally residing in EU states will be returned to Serbia. And the latest estimate says there are 100,000 such people.

Both agreements should be ratified by the end of the year and come into force on Jan 1, 2008.

At the parliament Monday, Interior Minister Dragan Jočić who signed the agreement on behalf of Serbia, announced that Serbia would soon get new passports with built-in protective measures, which was to enable the placing of Serbian nationals on the white Schengen list as soon as possible.