Brussels, 21/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina must catch up on the reforms needed to qualify for a short-stay visa waiver like those of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, the European Parliament civil liberties committee (LIBE) said on Monday 19 October. The European Commission should report on the two countries' progress early in 2010, according to the consultation report by Tanya Fajon (S&D Slovenia) which was adopted by the committee. MEPs also approved a compromise amendment to add Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the list of visa-free countries, with a footnote stating that the visa exemption would take effect only after a positive assessment by the Commission is approved by Council. Both provisionally remain among the countries whose citizens require a visa. The Commission should also start visa dialogue with Kosovo, MEPs said. The report will be put to the vote in plenary session in Brussels on 12 November. (B.C./transl.rt)