Saturday

25th Mar 2023

Albania and Bosnia closer to EU visa-free travel

Two more countries of the Western Balkans may be added to the so-called "White Schengen list" in the coming months, which would allow their citizens to travel to most of the European Union without visas.

Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina stand a good chance of a positive decision, according to the latest assessment of European Commission experts, seen by WAZ.EUobserver.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

  • The developments threaten to leave Kosovo in a 'black hole' (Photo: mpd01605)

Both states have met most of the criteria for visa-free travel, but still have work to do, the EU experts conclude. This means the decision to waive Schengen visas for their citizens may be conditional upon the fulfillment of remaining benchmarks by Tirana and Sarajevo. Insufficient progress in meeting the conditions prevented Albania and Bosnia from obtaining visa-free travel at the end of last year, when Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia were allowed into the scheme.

EU diplomats expect conditional approval to be granted to both countries, although Bosnia is faring better than Albania in meeting the criteria. The recommendation to lift the visa requirements is to be made by the commission after another assessment later in the year. Final approval will depend on the EU's interior ministers and on endorsement by the European Parliament.

The benchmarks both countries have to meet are divided into four thematic areas. Bosnia and Albania "appear to meet the benchmarks" in the first section, dealing with security of documents, the commission experts stated. A key condition in this area is the introduction of biometric passports.

Both countries also "generally meet" the benchmarks under heading four, related to foreign affairs and fundamental rights.

The criteria on illegal migration and readmission, which under heading three, have also been covered, although Albania's efforts in this area are yet to be verified by the European Commission, particularly in relation to the development of a strategy to support the reintegration of Albanian returnees deported by EU member states.

Work remains to be completed in area three however, which also refers to the rule of law, security and the fight against organised crime and corruption. According to the summary of the draft assessment by the EU experts, the commission will ask both countries to make "further efforts regarding the strengthening of the capacities of law enforcement and effective implementation of the legal framework for the fight against organised crime and corruption, including through allocation of adequate financial and human resources."

Several EU member states insist that the decision on visa liberalisation be made as soon as possible, especially in the case of Bosnia, where elections are scheduled for the autumn of this year. Although they are closer than ever to visa-free travel to most of the EU, both Sarajevo and Tirana have to step up their efforts to meet the remaining benchmarks, EU diplomats warned.

The EU is still looking for a way to include Kosovo in the process of visa liberalisation. Otherwise the citizens of Europe's youngest state may be left in a "black hole" inside a region where most people will soon enjoy the end of restrictions to free travel.

Opinion

EU's new critical raw materials act could be a recipe for conflict

Solar panels, wind-turbines, electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies require minerals including aluminium, cobalt and lithium — which are mined in some of the most conflict-riven nations on earth, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, and Kazakhstan.

Editorial

Okay, alright, AI might be useful after all

Large Language Models could give the powers trained data-journalists wield, to regular boring journalists like me — who don't know how to use Python. And that makes me tremendously excited, to be honest.

Polish abortion rights activist vows to appeal case

Polish abortion rights activists Justyna Wydrzyńska was last week sentenced for giving abortion pills to a 12-week pregnant woman. She will appeal. But with a court stacked by politically-appointed judges, her chances of overturning it are slim.

Editorial

Okay, alright, AI might be useful after all

Large Language Models could give the powers trained data-journalists wield, to regular boring journalists like me — who don't know how to use Python. And that makes me tremendously excited, to be honest.

Opinion

EU's new critical raw materials act could be a recipe for conflict

Solar panels, wind-turbines, electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies require minerals including aluminium, cobalt and lithium — which are mined in some of the most conflict-riven nations on earth, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, and Kazakhstan.

Latest News

  1. EU's new critical raw materials act could be a recipe for conflict
  2. Okay, alright, AI might be useful after all
  3. Von der Leyen pledges to help return Ukrainian children
  4. EU leaders agree 1m artillery shells for Ukraine
  5. Polish abortion rights activist vows to appeal case
  6. How German business interests have shaped EU climate agenda
  7. The EU-Turkey migration deal is dead on arrival at this summit
  8. Sweden worried by EU visa-free deal with Venezuela

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic and Baltic ways to prevent gender-based violence
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Economic gender equality now! Nordic ways to close the pension gap
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Pushing back the push-back - Nordic solutions to online gender-based violence
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: The Nordics are ready to push for gender equality
  5. Promote UkraineInvitation to the National Demonstration in solidarity with Ukraine on 25.02.2023
  6. Azerbaijan Embassy9th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting and 1st Green Energy Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us