Serbia risks visa liberalization with the EU

2023-05-17 10:08:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Serbia risks visa liberalization with the EU

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The European Commission has expressed concern about the existence of some simplified procedures for granting citizenship to internationals from countries that benefit from visa liberalization with the European Union.

According to a report by Radio Free Europe, a spokesperson for the European Commission said that citizens from third countries are able to avoid Schengen procedures to obtain visas and also pose a risk to the security of EU countries, especially Serbia. , which had such a scheme.

"The Commission has a general concern about the different versions of citizenship schemes, such as the simplified procedure for granting citizenship after a short period of residence. This may pose a public and security risk to the EU, as Serbia enjoys visa-free movement within the EU," said the spokesperson of the European Commission to Radio "Free Europe".

The same source emphasized that the Commission will continue to monitor such policies of naturalization as well as the granting of citizenship by countries that have visa liberalization within the visa suspension mechanism.

Also, the spokeswoman of the Commission emphasized that the visa policy of neighboring countries has a significant impact on the movement of immigrants towards EU countries.

"In the case of Serbia, adaptation to the visa regime of the European Union is important to continue fulfilling the criteria for visa liberalization. Serbia has taken an important step in adapting the visa regime to that of the EU. The Commission encourages Serbia to continue its efforts in this direction in order to have a full adaptation", the European Commission emphasized.

Earlier, Serbia was criticized for removing visas for some third countries, mainly for countries that have not recognized the Republic of Kosovo as an independent state. At the same time, some EU states have reported an increase in the number of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers from these territories.

Although Kosovo declared its independence on February 17, 2008, Serbia does not recognize the independence of the neighboring state. Currently, Kosovars are required to apply for a visa when planning to travel to EU countries, however, such a requirement will be removed from next year following the visa-free agreement with the EU.

Among the countries from which EU countries are expecting a large number of immigrants are Cuba, Burundi and Tunisia.

The European Commission confirmed through a statement that citizens of Serbia, as well as Montenegro and North Macedonia will have the right to travel without a visa from December 2009.

However, the authorities in Serbia were forced to return the visas to these countries after they were threatened that the EU would suspend visa liberalization for Serbia./ CNA.al