28/03/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 28 March, the European Parliament approved the visa liberalisation regime for Kosovo nationals by adopting Tanja Fajon's (S&D, Slovenia) report by 331 votes to 126, with 12 abstentions. The purpose of this vote was to confirm at first reading the mandate of the Parliament that was set in 2018 (see EUROPE 12095/9), since the EU Council has still not taken up a position on this issue. Kosovo is the only Balkan country that does not have this visa-free regime, as the European Parliament points out, and it could benefit Kosovans when travelling to the EU for periods not exceeding 3 months (renewable one time only). (SP)