Brussels, 15/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On 9 April, the Serbian and Macedonian media reported that the foreign affairs ministers for eight EU member states - Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia - hade sent a letter to the European Commission requesting that it speeds up the visa liberalisation regime with Western Balkan countries. In a letter dated 4 April, foreign affairs ministers stated: “We believe that the essential decision on the abolition of the visa regime should be taken…as soon as the states meet the set criteria”. Last year, the Commission began talks on the liberalisation of the visa regime with Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The roadmap for each country to achieve this new status covers four sets of issues: document security; illegal migration; public order and security; and external relations and fundamental rights. Ministers noted that “progress” was achieved in these four sectors and that important reforms have been launched in the area of justice, freedom and security. The letter was sent to the vice president of the European Commission - Jacques Barrot, the commissioner for enlargement - Olli Rehn and the Czech Presidency. It calls on the European executive to finalise reports on the progress of these countries before the end of May. Ministers point out that “the decision-making should be accelerated, taking into consideration the European Parliament elections and nomination of the members of the new European Commission”. In the event of a positive assessment, ministers say the Commission should make a proposal without delay to the Council on the abolition of the visa obligation for countries that have met the criteria. The final decision, which requires approval by a qualified majority of member states in order to be adopted, could be taken in November, affirm ministers, who also state that if the assessment is positive, citizens from the countries involved will be able to travel to EU countries without a visa from 2010. (B.C./transl.rh)