FINALLY - The EU abolishes visas for Serbs from Kosovo, Kosovo Government disappointed by the decision

Finally! Serbs from Kosovo with passports issued by Serbia's Coordination Directorate were the last in the Western Balkans to be discriminated against regarding visa liberalization, but now this injustice will be corrected.

Written by: Veljko Nestorovic

Today, the EU Council made the decision to abolish visas for holders of Serbian passports from Kosovo. According to the EU Council, a regulation has been adopted ensuring that the entire Western Balkans is subject to the same visa regime by removing the exclusion that previously applied to holders of Serbian passports issued by Serbia's Coordination Directorate.

The last step before publication in the Official Journal of the EU is the official signing of the act by the EU Council and the European Parliament. It is expected that during August, the first Serbs from Kosovo with these travel documents will be able to travel freely to EU countries.

Matjaž Nemec, the chief rapporteur in the European Parliament for the issue of visa liberalization for Serbs with passports issued by the Coordination Directorate, welcomed today's decision.

"I welcome today's positive decision by the foreign ministers of the member states to ensure a visa-free travel regime to the EU for the last group in the Western Balkans, namely the holders of special Serbian passports in Kosovo. As the chief rapporteur in the European Parliament for this issue, this step is even more significant because it marks the end of the legislative process, and we are moving towards implementing the visa-free regime as soon as possible," Nemec stated.

He noted that since taking over this responsibility in the European Parliament a little over four months ago, he has defended the position that this is a "technical, not a political decision."

State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Stojanovic, assessed that the EU Council's decision to abolish visas for holders of Serbian passports from Kosovo corrects an injustice and represents a victory for the human rights and standards of Serbs from Kosovo. He added that this decision is the result of the engagement of the Republic of Serbia's authorities.

As he emphasized, this is primarily good news because, until now, there was a group of Serbian citizens who were discriminated against and during the previous period did not have the right to travel across the EU without visas.

"Today, this injustice has been corrected, and this decision achieves a kind of victory for the human rights and standards of Serbs from the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. It is important to say that all these passports comply with EU rules and standards, are biometric, and as such, are aligned with EU requirements," Stojanovic said, emphasizing that this decision is the result of the engagement of the Republic of Serbia's authorities.

Kosovo Government Disappointed by EU Council Decision

The Kosovo government expressed disappointment with the EU Council's decision to abolish visas for holders of Serbian passports from Kosovo issued by Serbia's Coordination Directorate, stating that Kosovo institutions will continue not to recognize passports issued by Serbia, reports Telegrafi.

Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, Klisman Kadiu, stated on behalf of the Kosovo government that passports issued by Serbia undermine Kosovo's integrity and sovereignty.

"We express our disappointment with the European Union's decision to liberalize visas for holders of illegal passports issued by Serbian authorities for Serbian citizens of Kosovo. The EU's decision does not negate the fact that these passports remain illegal, completely violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our state, and therefore are unacceptable to Kosovo. Our authorities will continue not to recognize these passports," he said.

Lawyer Milan Antonijevic says that with the EU's decision to abolish visas for holders of Serbian passports from Kosovo, a longstanding injustice has finally been corrected, effectively closing the only black hole in the region.

"In this way, a longstanding injustice has finally been corrected, where part of the Serbian population could not exercise their rights like everyone else in the region, thus covering the only black hole in the region. The fact that they will now be able to travel to EU countries without a visa shows what European integration means, the goodwill of Brussels, but also the significant pressure from Serbia, from organizations to individuals who pointed out this injustice," Antonijevic told Kosovo Online.

Antonijevic adds that Pristina is trying in every possible way to send the message that it alone decides on the rights of Serbs in Kosovo.

"In this case, the EU has very clearly stated that it does not want to create a group of second-class Serbs from Kosovo but will equalize their rights with those living on the other side of the Ibar or Merdare. I think that in this way, Pristina loses certain arguments because I don't see why one would fight against the rights of someone who is your neighbor, who lives on the same territory, as it sends a very bad message. If you want Serbs to stay in northern Kosovo, you must fight for their rights in every possible way, not try to diminish or prevent Brussels from equalizing those rights," he added.

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric welcomed the EU Council's decision to abolish visas for holders of Serbian passports issued by the Coordination Directorate for Kosovo and Metohija, emphasizing that it is a small but significant victory for the human rights of Serbs in Kosovo.

"A small but important victory for the human rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. I welcome the EU Council's decision to finally abolish visas for holders of Serbian passports issued by the Coordination Directorate for Kosovo and Metohija," Djuric said on the social network "X."

Aleksandar Sljuka from the NGO "New Social Initiative" believes that the EU Council's decision to abolish visas for holders of Serbian passports from Kosovo is positive and joyful news amid the previously negative developments, as the previous decision was discriminatory.

"This decision this morning has delighted many people, especially those who hold these passports. The EU Council has approved it, and it is the final step towards approving visa liberalization for holders of passports issued by the Coordination Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It remains to translate the decision into the official languages of the EU, and in 20 days, it will come into effect. I think this is positive and joyful news amidst all the negative things surrounding us," he said.

Sljuka recalls that for 15 years, all those who possessed these passports have been waiting for liberalization and could not travel in any way.

"This year, the Kosovar passport also received visa liberalization, and it has been possible to travel with it for the past seven months, but there is a smaller number of people who could not obtain that passport. For them, this is an extremely significant decision, and for others who, due to Kosovo's dual citizenship law, can have both passports but prefer to have a Serbian passport and travel with it. This is good news; the previous decision was discriminatory, and in this way, all citizens of the Western Balkans will be able to travel," said Sljuka.

The Head of Serbia's Mission to the EU, Danijel Apostolovic, stated that the EU Council's decision to abolish visas for holders of Serbian passports from Kosovo removes an injustice, as these citizens were the only ones in the Western Balkans who needed visas to enter the Union.

"Good news from Brussels for our citizens from Kosovo and Metohija. We can finally say that the entire legislative procedure regarding the abolition of visas for our passports from Kosovo and Metohija is completed," Apostolovic told Kosovo Online.

He recalled that the decision was adopted today at the EU Council meeting, and it now needs to be published in the Official Journal, coming into effect 20 days afterward.