Brussels, 15/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 15 July, the European Commission officially proposed lifting visa requirements on citizens from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Serbia and Montenegro when entering the Schengen area. European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Jacques Barrot declared: “I am happy to announce the proposal to get rid of short term visas for citizens from FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia”. During a press conference, the commissioner added that “this is a historic stage in our relations with Western Balkan countries. Getting rid of visas was eagerly awaited and will facilitate more frequent and closer relations with citizens from these three countries and the Schengen area”. According to the Commission, these countries have met the conditions set out - creating biometric passports, strengthening border controls, fighting against corruption and organised crime and respect for fundamental rights. Mr Barrot declared: “Our experts have assessed the progress made by FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia and given the progress made, we are today able to propose…the scrapping of visa requirements on 1 January 2010”. Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said that this was an important day for the people of the western Balkans and explained that they were aware of how important this decision was to the people of the countries concerned. The commissioner pointed out that “each country was judged on its own merits. This is why we are proposing a visa liberalisation regime for FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia, as long as these last two countries respect a certain number of conditions in a given time frame”. These two countries will have to meet the final conditions before the proposal is adopted. Montenegro will be judged on implementation of the law on foreigners and its capacity for fighting corruption and organised crime. Serbia will have to respond to questions involving problem solving with Kosovo and cooperation with EULEX. Mr Barrot indicated that a report on the progress made by the Serbian authorities is expected at the end of September. The Commission's draft regulation on visa wavers still has to obtain the go-ahead from EU27 home affairs ministers, following consultation at the European Parliament. The Council could possibly reach a decision on 23 October.
Two other Balkan countries, on the other hand, whose cases were examined, have not had visa requirements withdrawn: Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mr Barrot indicated that “dialogue is continuing with Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Thee two countries, particularly, Bosnia-Herzegovina, have not yet begun to systematically develop biometric passports”. He also stressed that, “we will be encouraging the ministers concerned to seek rapid progress and we will then be able to make a proposal next year”. Commissioner Rehn, however, said that he envisaged a new proposal in mid-2010 for these two countries. Mr Rehn said that Kosovo was not part of the draft regulation, due to security problems. Serbs in Kosovo, who have a passport issued by a bone fide Serbian authority, will not be able to benefit from visa wavers enjoyed by Serbia. Serbians in Bosnia, however, who are holders of certain Serbian passports, will be able to travel freely to the Schengen area, as opposed to Bosnian Muslims. Mr Barrot said that only 2557 Bosnian citizens had been naturalised over the past few years and consequently, the problem was a limited one. Commissioner Rehn considers that there is a feeling of injustice regarding the EU, which they think has not acted justly because certain countries had not taken the necessary decisions in time. Mr Barrot concluded: “If we had proposed accepting Bosnia as part of the visa waver scheme now, we would not have had the approval of the Council”.
This differentiated treatment was not appreciated by everyone, including elements at the European Parliament. The co-president of the Greens at the European Parliament, Daniel Cohn-Bendit denounced the “decision to exclude Bosnia-Herzegovina from the visa waver, which adds insult to injury for the people who suffered most from the war raging less than 20 years ago”. The former high representative for the international community and the EU in Bosnia, Christian Schwarz-Schilling also denounced the decision in an interview published on Tuesday by the German newspaper, Bild-Zeitung, saying “this is an incredible political error”. According to Schwarz-Schilling, “Bosnia was a theatre of war due to Serbian aggression and the worst genocide committed in Europe since the Second World War”. He was shocked that in this context, the Commission had decided that Serbians “can travel freely but not citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina or Kosovo”. A declaration co-signed by the two men obtained around thirty signatures (MEPs, journalists, academics), who denounced the fact that this visa policy was in danger of creating “two classes of citizens” in South East Europe. (B.C./transl.rh)