Regulation (EU) 2023/850 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kosovo)

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Series Details L 110, Pages 1-4
Publication Date 25/04/2023
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Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2023/850 - formally adopted by the co-legislators on 19 April 2023 - introducing amendments to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 to add Kosovo to the list of those territories whose nationals are exempt from possessing a visa.

Further information:

The European Commission launched a visa liberalisation dialogue with Kosovo in January 2012. In June 2012, it presented a roadmap to Kosovo, which identified the legislation and other measures that the country was required to adopt and implement to advance towards visa liberalisation. The roadmap featured two sections - (1) readmission and reintegration; (2) document security; border/boundary and migration management, public order and security, fundamental rights related to free movement. The Commission adopted annual progress reports (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016) on the fulfilment of requirements by Kosovo.

Based on the assessment of the latest report - published alongside the draft law - and given the outcome of the monitoring and reporting carried out since the launch of the visa liberalisation dialogue, the Commission adopted a proposal on 6 May 2016 to amend Regulation (EC) No 539/2001, which comprised a list of non-European Union (EU) countries whose nationals must hold a visa or are exempt from the visa requirement when crossing the external border of the EU.

Discussions within the Council of the European Union were put on hold already in 2016, given the existence of unfulfilled benchmarks within the roadmap. The European Parliament's relevant committee adopted a negotiating position in September 2016. The Commission adopted a further report in July 2018 confirming that outstanding matters had been resolved, including the ratification of a border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. In November 2018, the co-legislators adopted Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, which codified the existing legislative framework. The Parliament's plenary session endorsed the committee's position in March 2019.

Following further discussions in 2018 and 2022, the Council of the European Union eventually adopted its general approach on this file on 30 November 2022. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for the draft law was reached on 14 December. This was formally endorsed by the Council on 9 March 2023 and by the Parliament on 18 April. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 19 April 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 25 April 2023.

Source Link http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/850/oj
Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
EUObserver: Analysis, 18/05/2021: What does EU want for Kosovo visa-free travel? https://euobserver.com/world/151874
Euronews, 03/08/2022: Europe’s worst passport: Why has Kosovo still not been given visa-free access to the EU? https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/08/03/europes-worst-passport-why-has-kosovo-still-not-been-given-visa-free-access-to-the-eu
Clingendael Institute: Policy Brief, 11/08/2022: The Dutch position on Kosovo's EU visa liberalisation process https://www.clingendael.org/publication/dutch-position-kosovos-eu-visa-liberalisation-process
International Institute for Peace (IIP): News, 27/09/2022: Kosovo's visa liberalisation: can we hope for progress soon? https://www.iipvienna.com/news-reports-publications/2022/9/27/kosovos-visa-liberalization-can-we-hope-for-progress-soon
Clingendael Institute: Report, 10/10/2022: France and visa liberalisation for Kosovo https://www.clingendael.org/publication/france-and-visa-liberalisation-kosovo
Emerging Europe: News & Analysis, 21/04/2023: EU finally opens its doors to the people of Kosovo https://emerging-europe.com/news/eu-finally-opens-its-doors-to-the-people-of-kosovo/

News
Balkan Insight, 04/05/2016: EU Visa Liberalisation Recommended for Kosovo http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/european-commission-proposes-visa-liberalisation-for-kosovo-05-04-2016
EUObserver, 05/05/2016: Kosovo's gloomy visa-free future https://euobserver.com/migration/133344
EurActiv, 06/05/2016: Kosovo Serbs worried about EU proposal for visa-free travel https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/kosovo-serbs-worried-about-eu-proposal-for-visa-free-travel/
B92, 04/05/2016: EC proposes lifting visa requirements for Kosovo https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2016&mm=05&dd=04&nav_id=97891
Balkan Insight, 05/09/2016: Border Deal Failure Has ‘Damaged’ Faith in Kosovo https://balkaninsight.com/2016/09/05/kosovo-anxious-over-visa-free-regime-after-border-deal-failure-09-02-2016/
Emerging Europe: News & Analysis, 01/02/2018: EU Rapporteur: Kosovo Has Missed the Visa Train https://emerging-europe.com/news/eu-rapporteur-kosovo-missed-visa-train/
Emerging Europe: News & Analysis, 17/07/2018: Kosovo has emerging Europe’s highest Schengen visa refusal rate https://emerging-europe.com/news/kosovo-has-emerging-europes-highest-schengen-visa-refusal-rate/
Associated Press (AP News), 17/12/2018: Kosovo betrayed by EU on visa-free travel, premier says https://apnews.com/article/04e9584f4de14d4da3c7267d6b20fd5d
Associated Press (AP News), 28/06/2022: Kosovars fume at new delay in accessing EU visa-free travel https://apnews.com/article/nato-travel-restaurants-kosovo-f7e3896b5107a8d79c9b4e9500a8950e
RFE/RL, 10/10/2022: As EU Refloats Visa-Free Entry, Ethnic Serbs Say They Could Embrace Kosovo Passports https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-visa-free-entry-serbia-kosovo-passports/32074265.html
Balkan Insight, 14/10/2022: Kosovo Frustrated by EU’s New ‘Conditions’ for Visa-Free Travel https://balkaninsight.com/2022/10/14/kosovo-frustrated-by-eus-new-conditions-for-visa-free-travel/
Euronews, 30/11/2022: EU to discuss granting visa permits to Kosovo passport holders https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/11/30/eu-to-discuss-granting-visa-permits-to-kosovo-passport-holders
Balkan Insight, 30/11/2022: EU Moves Finally to Scrap Visa Regime for Kosovo Citizens https://balkaninsight.com/2022/11/30/eu-moves-finally-to-scrap-visa-regime-for-kosovo-citizens/
Euronews, 01/12/2022: Scepticism in Kosovo over EU plans to grant Schengen visa permits to passport holders https://www.euronews.com/2022/12/01/scepticism-in-kosovo-over-eu-plans-to-grant-schengen-visa-permits-to-passport-holders
EurActiv, 15/12/2022: Kosovo progresses on visa liberalisation by 2024 path https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/kosovo-progresses-on-visa-liberalisation-by-2024-path/
EurActiv, 14/02/2023: Investigation reveals violations of EU Visa Code for Kosovo citizens https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/investigation-reveals-violations-of-eu-visa-code-for-kosovo-citizens/
EUObserver, 14/02/2023: Kosovars grow weary of EU's privatised visa regime https://euobserver.com/world/156704
The Sofia Globe, 09/03/2023: EU ministers agree to visa-free travel for Kosovo passport holders https://sofiaglobe.com/2023/03/09/eu-ministers-agree-to-visa-free-travel-for-kosovo-passport-holders/
RFE/RL, 18/04/2023: EU Lawmakers Approve Visa-Free Travel For Citizens Of Kosovo https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-lawmakers-approve-visa-free-travel-kosovo-/32369241.html
Euronews, 18/04/2023: EU lawmakers approve visa free travel for Kosovo https://www.euronews.com/2023/04/18/eu-lawmakers-approve-visa-free-travel-for-kosovo
Associated Press (AP News), 18/04/2023: EU lawmakers green-light visa free travel for Kosovo https://apnews.com/article/eu-kosovo-travel-visa-free-e48ca9602049016177d81489df4578bb
Balkan Insight, 18/04/2023: European Parliament Votes to Scrap Visa Regime for Kosovo Citizens https://balkaninsight.com/2023/04/18/european-parliament-votes-to-scrap-visa-regime-for-kosovo-citizens/
The Sofia Globe, 18/04/2023: European Parliament approves visa liberalisation with Kosovo https://sofiaglobe.com/2023/04/18/european-parliament-approves-visa-liberalisation-with-kosovo/
EurActiv, 19/04/2023: Kosovo visa liberalisation causes stir in Belgrade https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/kosovo-visa-liberalisation-causes-stir-in-belgrade/
RFI News, 20/04/2023: European Union approves visa-free travel for Kosovo citizens https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20230420-european-union-approves-visa-free-travel-for-kosovo-citizens

Official
EUR-LEX: COM(2016)277: Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kosovo) http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2016:277:FIN
EUR-LEX: COM(2023)138: Communication concerning the position of the Council on the proposal for a Regulation on amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kosovo) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2023:138:FIN
European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Third countries whose nationals are subject to or exempt from a visa requirement: Kosovo (2016/0139(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2016/0139(COD)
General Secretariat of the Council: Policies: EU visa policy https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-visa-policy/
European Commission: Press Release, 04/05/2016: European Commission proposes visa-free travel for the people of Kosovo https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_16_1626
European Parliament: Press Release, 05/09/2016: Civil liberties MEPs back visa waivers for Kosovo and Georgia https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20160905IPR41321/
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 30/11/2022: Kosovo: Council agrees negotiating mandate on visa free travel https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/11/30/kosovo-council-agrees-negotiating-mandate-on-visa-free-travel/
European Parliament: Delegation for Relations with Kosovo: Statement following the Council’s decision regarding the visa-free regime for citizens of Kosovo, 30 November 2022 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/statement-following-the-council-s-decisi/product-details/20221201DPU34605
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 14/12/2022: Kosovo : Council presidency and European Parliament agree on visa free travel https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/12/14/kosovo-council-presidency-and-european-parliament-agree-on-visa-free-travel/
S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 14/12/2022: A promise made long ago finally kept! The European Parliament and the Council agree on EU visa liberalisation with Kosovo https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/promise-made-long-ago-finally-kept-european-parliament-and-council-agree-eu-visa
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 09/03/2023: Kosovo: Council gives green light to visa free travel https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/03/09/kosovo-council-gives-green-light-to-visa-free-travel/
European Parliament: Press Release, 18/04/2023: MEPs approve visa liberalisation with Kosovo https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230414IPR80117/
S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 18/04/2023: Kosovo finally joins rest of Western Balkans in visa-free travel to EU https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/kosovo-finally-joins-rest-western-balkans-visa-free-travel-eu
European Commission: DG Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations: News, 20/04/2023: Visa liberalisation: EU adopts visa-free travel for Kosovo https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/visa-liberalisation-eu-adopts-visa-free-travel-kosovo-2023-04-20_en

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