Liberals champion freedom to travel for all Balkan citizens

5.00.00pm GMT Fri 13th Nov 2009

Thanks to the key role played over the last two months by MEPs from the Liberal and Democrat Group, the European Parliament has approved the prospect of visa-free travel to the EU for the citizens of all Western Balkan countries. This will be subject to certain security conditions being met by their governments and greater cooperation against crime, trafficking and illegal immigration.

It is expected that after the Council (EU governments) endorses this measure soon, people from Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro will be able to travel visa-free to the EU from December 19th 2009. MEPs have also secured Council agreement to the aim of visa waiver for those from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Albania as soon as possible, which for ALDE means hopefully summer 2010. The Parliament has also insisted on the launch of a similar 'road-map' process leading to visa facilitation and then liberalisation for Kosovo.

ALDE Group spokeswoman on foreign affairs Annemie Neyts MEP (Open VLD, Belgium), who is also the president of the European Liberal Democrat party (ELDR) said:

"European Liberals have consistently supported the goal of EU accession for all Western Balkan countries. There can be no better step in equipping their citizens to join a free movement area with common values than the liberty to travel without hindrance. Parties in the region who fight for Liberal and Democratic values against nationalism and xenophobia know they can count on us, their European allies."

Sarah Ludford MEP (Liberal Democrat, UK), rapporteur for the Foreign Affairs committee opinion, said

"This week we celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago. In 1989, people's yearning for freedom was the battering-ram that demolished oppression and hatred. While visa obstacles cannot quite be compared to the Wall, they are still a barrier to free communication and wider horizons that promote understanding, tolerance and prosperity. Liberal MEPs' insistence on an inclusive approach should ensure a fair result by the 15th anniversary of the Dayton Agreement."

"As a British MEP, I hope the UK, which is not included in the present decision of the EU Schengen zone, will also shortly follow the same path of visa abolition."

Jelko Kacin MEP (LDS, Slovenia), European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, Vice president of Liberal International and former Slovenian defence minister said:

"ALDE appeals to Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia, along with the European Commission and the member states, to help Albania and BiH build capacity in order to meet the requirements laid out in the visa liberalisation roadmap. It would be divisive, unfair and create instability to leave one set of people long outside the enjoyment of visa-free travel. This includes Kosovo, and ALDE regrets that the process of visa liberalisation for Kosovo has not yet begun."