Brussels, 29/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - In a report adopted on 29 June, the Commission recommended that Romanian citizens should be exempted from the visa obligation from 1 January 2002 when they enter the EU. The EU Council is therefore expected to take a decision along these lines by the end of the year, if Romania fulfils a certain number of commitments. The Commission notes progress has already been made by Romanian authorities regarding immigration. They are gradually adjusting their visa policy to the EU body of law. They have also recently adopted, among other things, a new law on foreigners, a decision on a new kind of passport and a framework agreement on readmission of illegal aliens of Romanian origin. They have also reorganised their border police and established a National Visa Centre. All this should contribute to preventing Romania from being used as a transit country for illegal immigrants wishing to enter the EU, said the Commission, which stresses the advantages that the visa obligation exemption may bring to the process of democratisation in general. He cited, for example, visits by students, researchers and businessmen from Romania.