"EC Balkan chief to visit Belgrade"

Director of the European Commission's DG Enlargement Unit for the Western Balkans Pierre Mirel is due to visit Belgrade on May 11, reports daily Danas. Mirel and Luigi Soreca, head of the expert mission for drawing up the White Schengen Road Map, have requested to meet with Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic to discuss the European Commission’s upcoming report on Serbia’s readiness for visa liberalization. "EC Balkan chief to visit Belgrade" Mirel is due to take that opportunity to announce the exact date when the EC will publish its report on the Western Balkan countries’ progress towards a visa-free regime and meeting the Road Map criteria. According to unofficial information, the EC’s report will be published a week after Mirel’s visit to Belgrade on May 18. In their report, EC officials are expected to publish an individual evaluation for each country, making it possible to gage immediately which countries are in line for visa liberalization at this moment in time. Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro are expected to be best placed, while further efforts will be sought from Albania and Bosnia-Hercegovina. The recommendation for visa liberalization for Serbia could follow in early June, which is why officials in Belgrade believe that restrictions will be lifted at the end of this year, or the start of 2010, at the latest. An EU working group for the Balkans is due to discuss the EC report on May 25, provided there are no major criticisms of its content, while in June, the EC could send an official recommendation for certain countries’ accession to the white list.

"EC Balkan chief to visit Belgrade"

Mirel is due to take that opportunity to announce the exact date when the EC will publish its report on the Western Balkan countries’ progress towards a visa-free regime and meeting the Road Map criteria.

According to unofficial information, the EC’s report will be published a week after Mirel’s visit to Belgrade on May 18.

In their report, EC officials are expected to publish an individual evaluation for each country, making it possible to gage immediately which countries are in line for visa liberalization at this moment in time.

Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro are expected to be best placed, while further efforts will be sought from Albania and Bosnia-Hercegovina. The recommendation for visa liberalization for Serbia could follow in early June, which is why officials in Belgrade believe that restrictions will be lifted at the end of this year, or the start of 2010, at the latest.

An EU working group for the Balkans is due to discuss the EC report on May 25, provided there are no major criticisms of its content, while in June, the EC could send an official recommendation for certain countries’ accession to the white list.