Brussels, 13/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 8 May in Brussels, the European Commission gave the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) the roadmap on easing the visa regime. The document gives clear indications to the candidate country's authorities on the measures that need to be taken in order to grant visa free travel to all its citizens in the near future. “The roadmap on visa facilitation is certainly another important step towards the EU integration of the candidate country”, said Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, in a press release. In his view, the roadmap will not only facilitate travel conditions for FYROM nationals. It will also “encourage the country to continue implementing the relevant reforms and reinforcing cooperation at regional level and with the EU in areas such as strengthening the rule of law, fighting organised crime and corruption”, he recalled. Since 1 January 2008, the citizens of FYROM have enjoyed the benefits of a visa facilitation agreement with the EU. In February 2008, the dialogue on visa liberalisation with FYROM was engaged. The roadmap is the first step of this dialogue. The “balanced approach” recommended by the Commission in this roadmap is very similar to that for Serbia (EUROPE 9657). (B.C.)