09/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner responsible for immigration Jacques Barrot said on Thursday 9 July that, on 14 July, the European Commission would propose exempting citizens of three Balkan republics from the need to hold a visa to enter the EU, with effect from 2010. “Our proposal will refer to Serbia, FYROM and Montenegro,” he is quoted as saying by AFP. “FYROM, Serbia and Montenegro have made the greatest efforts” to come into line with the conditions set, he added. The citizens of two other Balkan countries - Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina - will not, however, be exempted. Enlargement Commissioner “Olli Rehn will be the bearer of glad tidings,” but these will then have to be approved by EU home affairs ministers, “and it is us (Barrot's staff) who will then do most of the work,” the commissioner said. (B.C./transl.rt)