Visa Liberalisation: Commission confirms Kosovo fulfils all required benchmarks

Today, the Commission has confirmed that Kosovo has met the 2 outstanding visa liberalisation requirements on the ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro and a strengthened track record in the fight against crime and corruption, thus fulfilling all benchmarks set out in the Visa Liberalisation Roadmap. In May 2016, the Commission proposed to the European Parliament and the Council to grant EU visa-free travel for the people of Kosovo, on the understanding that the 2 requirements would be met by the time of the adoption of the proposal. The Commission now encourages the European Parliament and the Council to move forward on its proposal.

Since the launch of the visa liberalisation dialogue with Kosovo in 2012, the Commission has continuously monitored the fulfilment of the requirements contained in the Visa Liberalisation Roadmap. Today's report confirms that Kosovo has met the 2 remaining benchmarks, since the Commission presented its 4th progress report in May 2016:

• Border demarcation: following a positive vote by the Kosovo Assembly on the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, this benchmark was met on 21 March 2018;
• Track record in the fight against organised crime and corruption: The Commission has been monitoring this last remaining benchmark for the past 2 years and held a technical mission to Kosovo on 3-4 May to further assess the progress made. The Commission can now confirm that the Kosovo authorities have established and strengthened a steady track record of investigations and final court rulings in cases concerning organised crime and corruption, thus successfully meeting the final benchmark.

Today's report also confirms that Kosovo continues to fulfil all other benchmarks set out in the Visa Liberalisation Roadmap relating to readmission and reintegration, document security, migration and border management, public order and security, and fundamental rights related to the freedom of movement.

For more Information

• Press Release IP/18/4562: Visa Liberalisation: Commission confirms Kosovo fulfils all required benchmarks
• Report on the update on the implementation of the remaining benchmarks of the visa liberalisation roadmap by Kosovo
  • Annexes to the Report on the update on the implementation of the remaining benchmarks of the visa liberalisation roadmap by Kosovo
• Joint statement: on the ratification of the Border Demarcation Agreement between Kosovo and Montenegro
• Press Release IP/16/1626: European Commission proposes visa-free travel for the people of Kosovo
• Press Release IP/15/6369: Commission adopts final visa liberalisation report for Kosovo
• Fourth report on progress by Kosovo in fulfilling the requirements of the visa liberalisation roadmap
• Proposal to transfer the people of Kosovo to the visa-free list for short stays in most EU Member States