Kosovo Will Submit Application to Join the EU

Kosovo plans to submit an application for membership to the European Union within the next few days. The initial target is 2030.

Besnik Bislimi, the first Kosovo deputy prime minister in charge of European Integration, stated that Kosovo's authorities were "ready to put Kosovo onto the new trajectory". This suggests that the country is serious about getting closer to the bloc. SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Politico states that accessing the EU can be a long and complex process, requiring years of regulatory changes. The same article also points out that Kosovo's case is complex because five EU member states - Spain, Greece, Spain, and Cyprus - do not recognize the independence of Kosovo.

Another source emphasized that Bislimi stated that Kosovo could be ready to join the EU, setting 2030 as the initial goal. Bislimi made this comment, as well as stating that the EU would not be complete without the Western Balkans.

Politico also reported that Bislimi emphasized Kosovo's young population as a positive and expressed optimism about the country's ability to make the necessary economic changes.

Bislimi said that reforms would be easier because of the "abundance of entrepreneurial spirit" found in Kosovo. Bislimi stated that it is difficult to reform the rule of law.

Bislimi also stated for Politico, that he believes the country can solve other disputes, including the controversial issue of recognition. Bislimi also stressed that any EU country which has not yet recognized Kosovo will not be an obstacle to the country's accession bid.

Although Kosovo will still need to wait for an answer on its EU accession request, citizens of Kosovo might soon be able to travel to the EU without the need for a Schengen visa. The EU ambassadors have already reached an agreement on a mandate from the EU Council to allow visa-free travel for Kosovo.

In November, the Council of the EU issued an official press release confirming the announcement.

Jan Lipavsky (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic) stated that the draft rules would allow anyone with a Kosovo passport to travel to the EU, without the need to apply for a visa. The rule allows for 90-day stays in any 180-day period.

Minister Lipavsky also stated that citizens of Kosovo will be exempted from visa requirements starting with the ETIAS operations start date.

 

Source: schengenvisainfo.com