Visa liberalization decision with one more EU country

The European Parliament (EP) approved the decision to allow visa-free travel to the EU for Kosovo passport holders.

In the written statement made after the vote in the EP General Assembly, it was reported that “Kosovo citizens will be able to go to the EU and EU citizens to Kosovo visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period ”. .

Therefore, the entire Western Balkans region was included in the scope of the visa waiver with the EU visa-free travel zone, Schengen.
The decision will enter into force from its publication in the official gazette.

The visa waiver will become effective on the date the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) becomes operational or on January 1, 2024. This date will be taken into account if ETIAS becomes effective before 2024.

Kosovo, along with other Western Balkan countries, was declared a “potential candidate” country at the EU Leaders’ Summit held in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 2003. The country’s unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008 is not currently recognized by 5 EU countries, namely Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and the Greek Cypriot administration.

Kosovo submitted an official application for EU membership in December 2022. (BRITISH AUTOMOBILE CLUB)