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EU visas canceled for Serbia
November 30, 2009
The EU Council of Ministers has adopted today, November 30, the decision to lift the visa regime for the citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia, for travels to the countries of the Schengen area, starting with December 19. The report from Sandra Pekic.
Swedish Minister of Migrations and Asylum Policy Toby Bielstrom and European Commission Vice President Jacques Barrault have officially stated the decision of the Council of Ministers to cancel the visas for the Serbian citizens, after almost two decades. Barrault has described this decision as a historical step in the rapprochement of the West Balkans to the EU. He added the dialog with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania is still ongoing, while the EU will help those two countries in trying to realize the visa liberalization by December next year.
According to Serbian President Boris Tadic, including Serbia to the “white Schengen list” represents the first step towards its full integration to the EU. “We promised our citizens that visas would be canceled, and now we are fulfilling that promise”, Tadic stated at the joint press conference with Jacques Barrault and Ollie Rehn in Brussels.
Head of the European Commission Delegation in Serbia Vincent Degert and Swedish Ambassador Christer Bringeus, have congratulated the Serbian citizens, at the meeting in the Belgrade Media Center, for being allowed to travel to the EU without visas. Degert said that the Union has kept its promise and liberalized the visa regime after the fulfillment of required conditions. He specifies that the people of Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro will be exempted from the need to have visas, except for Great Britain and Ireland. As tourists, they will be allowed to spend up to three months in the countries of the Schengen area, during one half of the year. “The decision applies to the citizens who have the biometric passports, but not those with residence in Kosmet”. Explained Degert.
While stressing that there will be no more exhausting waiting in lines in front of the embassies and consulates, the Swedish Ambassador in Belgrade has expressed satisfaction over the fact that it has been achieved during his country’s presiding over the EU. Bringeus has underlined that visa liberalization is not a present, but rather a result of dedicated effort by the Serbian Government and President. He emphasized that ministers of justice and interior, Snezana Malovic and Ivica Dacic respectively, have set a record in meeting all the requirements from the so-called “road map”, and he added that so far 1.4 million Serbian biometric passports have been issued. Bringeus has also stated that the decision of the EU Council of Ministers will additionally make Serbia closer to the EU and help in developing ties among the people, development of tourism and economy, and he especially pointed to the significance of this decision for the young people.
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Now, I just need like a bunch of money
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