EC Says It Mistakenly Requested North Macedonia and Montenegro to Introduce Visas for Kosovo Nationals

However, the Commission admitted such mistakes while emphasizing that they will soon be corrected.

The report which was focused on the actions taken by these countries in order to ensure they follow the recommendations made by the Commission consisted of some remarks such as the fact that Montenegro and North Macedonia continue to permit Kosovo’s citizens to enter these two neighbouring countries visa-free, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

Such an estimation made in the fifth report goes against the Commission’s previous estimations that all these countries have met all the needed requirements for the visa liberalisation process to be finished.

“North Macedonia has not taken action in 2021 to further harmonize the country’s visa policy with that of the EU. Citizens of the following countries, which require a visa to enter the EU, still enjoy visa-free access to North Macedonia: Azerbaijan, Botswana, Cuba, El Salvador, Kosovo* and Turkey,” the report noted.

In addition, the European Commission urged authorities in North Macedonia to pay more attention to this request made by the Commission.

“Any further deviation from the EU’s list of visa-required countries must be avoided. North Macedonia should ensure progress in aligning its policy with the EU list, especially with regard to those third countries that pose irregular migration or security risks to the EU,” the report emphasized according to Express Newspaper report.

Among others, the Commission considered that such a decision would be an important topic of the dialogue between the European Union and North Macedonia.

The same advice was also addressed to authorities in Montenegro, which country also permits visa-free entry for citizens of Kosovo.

The European Commission in this regard has admitted that the report requested these Balkan countries to issue visas to Kosovo citizens. However, it was clarified that such a request was made mistakenly.

The Commission emphasized that there is no change in its position while once again stressing that continues to support the liberalisation of visas for citizens of Kosovo while adding that it demands that the visa regime in the borderless area of Schengen be lifted without further delays.

The fifth report, which urged North Macedonia and Montenegro to issue visas to Kosovo citizens was not welcomed by authorities in Kosovo.

In this regard, the Ambassador of Kosovo in Brussels considered such advice unacceptable, but soon after he said that such a mistake will be corrected.