Kosovo has fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalisation, according to Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri.
Tahiri spoke at a policy briefing on Kosovo as a game-changer for the European Union (EU) enlargement policy, organised by the European Policy Centre a day ahead of the seventh meeting between the prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo in Brussels on 20 March.
The deputy prime minister said that the Kosovo citizens were isolated due to the still applied visa system with the 27 EU member states and were, therefore, treated unfairly.
Tahiri pointed out that the authorities in Pristina take note of the current political obstacles, including the fact that her country's independence is still unrecognised by five members of the EU. However, she stressed that the importance of Kosovo's full recognition lies not only in Kosovo's own stability, but also because this would contribute to a sustainable peace and stability in the region, as well as serve the European cohesiveness in foreign policy.
Moreover, the deputy prime minister expressed hope that politics, and specially the lack of positive decision of several countries on Kosovo's recognition, would not turn into an obstacle for the country in its relations with the EU.
Ahead of the meeting between Serbia and Kosovo prime ministers tomorrow, Tahiri highlighted one of the problematic issues in the relations between Belgrade and Pristina, namely the parallel structures. Kosovo wants to see especially those in the security area dismantled.
In addition, the deputy prime minister said she does not foresee future problems for Kosovo in becoming member of various international organisations, especially after it has recently joined the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
She added that Kosovo sees European integration as a peace project for the Balkans and expressed hope that the EU will speed up the integration of the Western Balkans. In Tahiri's view, countries from the Western Balkans should be integrated en bloc through a more strategic approach from the Union.
Meanwhile, the EU Commissioner for enlargement,Štefan Füle, was on an official visit to Pristina where he addressed the National Council on European Integration. In particular, Füle made a point that Kosovo is part of the enlargement mainstream and pointed out that the dialogue tomorrow and Kosovo's further progress in its relationship with Serbia are critically important for the country's relations with the European Union.
Even though the authorities in Pristina consider they have fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalisation with the European Union, a recent report by the European Commission on visa liberalisation with Kosovo maintains a different view. The report concluded that Kosovo’s current capacity to fight organised crime and corruption remains limited, with a potentially severe impact on the EU’s internal security.
