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BRUSSELS – The European Commission has determined in its report within the visa-free regime monitoring mechanism that there is compliance of partners from the Western Balkans, including Serbia, with the EU’s visa-free travel requirements and has provided recommendations for further improvements on this issue.
The Commission’s report shows that only in the case of Georgia is there a possibility of jeopardizing the visa-free regime. The European Commission announced that on December 6th, it adopted the seventh report within the Visa Suspension Mechanism, which monitors the EU’s visa-free regimes with partners from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership, as well as countries from the Eastern Caribbean and Latin America. The Commission assessed that Serbia, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, have taken actions to respond to several recommendations given in the sixth report within the Visa Suspension Mechanism, but need to take additional actions, especially to align their visa policies with the EU’s visa policy. “For the EU’s neighborhood, the continuation of the visa liberalization process remains a powerful tool to support reforms and strengthen cooperation with the EU in the area of migration, border management, and security,” the Commission stated. The report lists two recommendations concerning Serbia, expecting further progress in aligning visa policy with the list of countries requiring a visa to enter the EU, as well as in fully implementing the clause on third-country nationals from the readmission agreement between the EU and Serbia. The report highlights that Serbia has a visa-free regime with 16 countries whose citizens require visas to enter the EU, but it also notes that Serbia has introduced a full visa regime for citizens of six countries to better align its policy with that of the EU.
Due to the risks of irregular migration to the EU, the Commission expects faster progress from Serbia in aligning its visa policy. In the area of cooperation on migration, border management, and readmission, it is noted that Serbia has continued to engage positively in implementing the EU Action Plan for the Western Balkans and implementing a new integrated border management strategy for the period 2022-2027 and action plan for 2022-2024. It is also pointed out that Serbia cooperates on migration and border management with Frontex and EU Member States, as well as on security issues with agencies such as, among others, Europol, Eurojust, and Interpol. Regarding Ukraine and AP Kosovo, the Commission assessed that the conditions for visa liberalization continue to be met, but measures need to be taken to address the Commission’s recommendations.
However, when it comes to Georgia, it is noted that considering recent events in the country, discussions are underway on the possible activation of the visa suspension mechanism for certain categories of people. Georgia is simultaneously urged to take additional urgent measures to address the Commission’s recommendations, especially in the field of fundamental rights protection, to avoid activating this mechanism and to continue meeting the standards for visa liberalization. The European Commission stated that it will continue to monitor the fulfillment of conditions for visa liberalization and that the results on this issue will be included in its annual enlargement package and, where relevant, in negotiations on EU accession. The report states that visa-free travel “facilitates mobility and interpersonal contacts, boosts the travel and tourism sector, and promotes cultural and academic exchange,” but it is noted that it can pose significant challenges in relation to irregular migration and security. The Commission stated that it will continue to report to the European Parliament and the Council once a year (December 9th).