On Thursday 9 March, according to a press release, the Council of the EU adopted its position at first reading on the visa-free regime for Kosovo nationals.
The new rules will allow Kosovar passport holders to travel to the EU without a visa for a stay of 90 days within a 180-day period. This exemption from the visa requirement will apply from the date upon which the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) becomes operational or from 1 January 2024, whichever is the earlier. The new rules must now be adopted by the European Parliament.
Kosovo “has made significant progress in all areas of the roadmap for visa liberalisation. On the basis of this assessment, the European Commission proposed to exempt holders of passports issued by Kosovo from the visa requirement. The visa waiver will allow the whole of the Western Balkans region to benefit from the same visa regime”, commented the EU Council.
This decision is also without prejudice to positions adopted by Member States on the status of Kosovo.
Negotiators from the European Parliament and the Czech Presidency of the EU Council had agreed on this visa regime in December (see EUROPE 13084/28).
Link to the agreement: https://aeur.eu/f/5py (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)