Brussels, 30/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 30 November, the home affairs ministers of the European Union formally agreed to remove the visa obligation upon citizens of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Serbia and Montenegro entering the Schengen zone, as of 19 December 2009. "Citizens from these three countries will be able to spend Christmas with their families or friends in the Schengen area", said Swedish Immigration and Asylum Minister Tobias Billström. The ministers also approved a common declaration urging the governments of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania to continue their efforts to allow them to benefit by a similar system as quickly as possible, as long as the criteria stipulated in the roadmap are met. The definitive evaluation of the two countries will take place in May 2010 and a proposal may be made by the European Commission by the early summer. Commissioner Jacques Barrot also referred to the forthcoming examination of a proposal aiming to facilitate the issuing of visas for certain citizens of Kosovo. (B.C./transl.fl)