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The EU Council decided to abolish the visa regime for Kosovo citizens holding Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Agency.
The decision was made at the last foreign ministers’ meeting of the semester, which concluded all legislative procedures.
Once it enters into force (expected to be 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union), the decision will begin to apply to all EU Member States.
“Today, the EU Council adopted a regulation ensuring that the entire Western Balkans region is subject to the same visa regime, removing the exemption that previously applied to holders of Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Agency”. The EU statement said.
Following the liberalization of Kosovo visas on January 1 this year, the process of abolishing the visa system for Kosovo citizens holding Serbian passports was initiated.
With the removal of visas for citizens holding Kosovo passports, citizens holding only documents issued by the Serbian Coordination Agency (a body that operates within the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Belgrade) remain the only ones who need a visa to travel freely within the region’s mobility zone, the Schengen area.
The European Commission proposed to exempt them from visas last November. The European Parliament voted on the issue in April this year. These decisions have caused a reaction from the Kosovo government.
Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi said in November 2023 that “the recognition of these documents undermines the integration of the Serbian community” and “harms our long-term efforts (for the integration of Serbs)”.
The relevant passports are not recognized by Kosovo and their holders cannot travel from Pristina Airport with them. /REL
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