Kosovo “doesn’t want“ white Schengen

The EC’s decision on the visa regime with Serbia won’t apply to Kosovo, something Pristina sees as recognition of its independence, Radio Free Europe reports. According to the European Commission (EC), all those who have a Serbian passport and live on the territory of Kosovo will not be eligible for visa liberalization, Kosovo media report. Kosovo “doesn’t want“ white Schengen Media reports state that around 1,500 Albanians have already received Serbian biometric passports, while about 7,600 have applied. Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi said that the EU had legally and politically stated that Kosovo citizens should not be taking Serbian identification documents. “It is clear that Kosovo is an independent country and that its people are Kosovo citizens. What’s happening in Serbia presents a tendency for various misuses. I am convinced that the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, Serbs included, will be inclined towards the Kosovo identity,” Kuqi said. He said that the provincial government expected the EC to draw up a visa liberalization road map for Kosovo as well. Media report that the EU proposal to put Serbia on the white Schengen list will be adopted with a recommendation that visa liberalization should not apply to Kosovo residents. “The visa liberalization proposal applies to citizens living on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, but not to citizens living on the territory of Kosovo under Resolution 1244,” the draft proposal states. According to Pristina daily Koha Ditore, the decision represents a compromise struck within the EU. To wit, in so doing, the demands of EU members that have not recognized Kosovo—Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Romania and Cyprus—have been satisfied, as the agreement states that Kosovo is still a territory governed by UN Security Council resolution 1244. It also satisfies countries that have recognized Kosovo, as those citizens that have taken out Serbian passports will be classed as Serbian citizens. The EC’s office in Pristina states that a study on Kosovo’s development will be conducted in the autumn, covering, among other things, the issue of visas and ways of facilitating travel for citizens of the province who elect not to take out Serbian passports.

Kosovo “doesn’t want“ white Schengen

Media reports state that around 1,500 Albanians have already received Serbian biometric passports, while about 7,600 have applied.

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi said that the EU had legally and politically stated that Kosovo citizens should not be taking Serbian identification documents.

“It is clear that Kosovo is an independent country and that its people are Kosovo citizens. What’s happening in Serbia presents a tendency for various misuses. I am convinced that the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, Serbs included, will be inclined towards the Kosovo identity,” Kuqi said.

He said that the provincial government expected the EC to draw up a visa liberalization road map for Kosovo as well.

Media report that the EU proposal to put Serbia on the white Schengen list will be adopted with a recommendation that visa liberalization should not apply to Kosovo residents.

“The visa liberalization proposal applies to citizens living on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, but not to citizens living on the territory of Kosovo under Resolution 1244,” the draft proposal states.

According to Priština daily Koha Ditore, the decision represents a compromise struck within the EU. To wit, in so doing, the demands of EU members that have not recognized Kosovo—Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Romania and Cyprus—have been satisfied, as the agreement states that Kosovo is still a territory governed by UN Security Council resolution 1244.

It also satisfies countries that have recognized Kosovo, as those citizens that have taken out Serbian passports will be classed as Serbian citizens.

The EC’s office in Priština states that a study on Kosovo’s development will be conducted in the autumn, covering, among other things, the issue of visas and ways of facilitating travel for citizens of the province who elect not to take out Serbian passports.