17 EU states to issue free visas

17 EU member states have decided today to extend the free visa regime to Serbian citizens, says French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. The countries in question are France, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Hungary, Norway, Germany, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden. Kouchner said that the initiative had been launched by France. 17 EU states to issue free visas A joint statement from the aforesaid countries given by the French embassy says that the decision to extend the free visa regime for Serbian citizens had been taken “on the basis of discussions during the last meeting of the EU Council for Judicial and Internal Affairs.” “On Friday, April 18, the European Commission and Slovenia, as its presiding state, called on EU member states to relax the visa regime for Serbian citizens and other Western Balkan countries with a view to full liberalization of the visa regime. Furthermore, it represents a signal that the EU as a whole is willing to support Serbia’s aspirations towards Europe,” the statement reads. It adds that the aforesaid countries have decided, “besides the support to Serbia in order to help her to accede to the EU,” to take full advantage of the flexibility suggested by the European Commission in granting free visas to all applicants where the possibility exists, and in full accordance with Schengen regulations.” “The European Commission thinks that this should make it possible to grant free visas to almost 80 percent of citizens,” the statement stresses. “So, in future, the majority of people under 25 will also be able to obtain free visas,” the text concludes. The move comes after Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulic (DS) said yesterday that the EU wanted to make visas for Serbian citizens free of charge, as a sign that Serbia was on the right path. The speaker added that he expected other EU states to support the proposal. “It is a serious and realistic proposal that can be adopted very quickly,” he said at a rally entitled “How to Accelerate Serbia’s EU Integration” in Belgrade. He announced that such a decision would be taken at one of the meetings of EU interior ministers, expressing his hope that this would take place as soon as possible. “At this moment in time, the EU wants to show Serbian citizens that they are welcome in the EU, and that Serbia is welcome in the EU, and one of the best ways to do this is to slowly liberalize and ultimately normalize the visa regime, and abolish visa requirements for Serbian citizens,” said Dulic. Bernard Kouchner, left (Beta, archive)

17 EU states to issue free visas

A joint statement from the aforesaid countries given by the French embassy says that the decision to extend the free visa regime for Serbian citizens had been taken “on the basis of discussions during the last meeting of the EU Council for Judicial and Internal Affairs.”

“On Friday, April 18, the European Commission and Slovenia, as its presiding state, called on EU member states to relax the visa regime for Serbian citizens and other Western Balkan countries with a view to full liberalization of the visa regime. Furthermore, it represents a signal that the EU as a whole is willing to support Serbia’s aspirations towards Europe,” the statement reads.

It adds that the aforesaid countries have decided, “besides the support to Serbia in order to help her to accede to the EU,” to take full advantage of the flexibility suggested by the European Commission in granting free visas to all applicants where the possibility exists, and in full accordance with Schengen regulations.”

“The European Commission thinks that this should make it possible to grant free visas to almost 80 percent of citizens,” the statement stresses.

“So, in future, the majority of people under 25 will also be able to obtain free visas,” the text concludes.

The move comes after Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulić (DS) said yesterday that the EU wanted to make visas for Serbian citizens free of charge, as a sign that Serbia was on the right path.

The speaker added that he expected other EU states to support the proposal. “It is a serious and realistic proposal that can be adopted very quickly,” he said at a rally entitled “How to Accelerate Serbia’s EU Integration” in Belgrade.

He announced that such a decision would be taken at one of the meetings of EU interior ministers, expressing his hope that this would take place as soon as possible.

“At this moment in time, the EU wants to show Serbian citizens that they are welcome in the EU, and that Serbia is welcome in the EU, and one of the best ways to do this is to slowly liberalize and ultimately normalize the visa regime, and abolish visa requirements for Serbian citizens,” said Dulić.