White Schengen list announced for Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro

Visa free travel proposal

Boundaries built ages and ages ago are longing to be tumbled down and it seems that time has slowly came. It looks like that citizens of Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro will finally get a chance to obtain visas with no trouble


By LJILJANA SAMARDŽIĆ
from Sombor, SERBIA


Although it might seem impossible, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro were proposed for "positive", so-called White Schengen List on July 15th 2009, by European Commission. After years of preparations, those three countries succeeded in fulfilling settled conditions. However, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina were excluded from Commission's proposal.

Before these countries, whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders, could be considered for White Schengen they had to be oriented at solving few main problems. Issues that needed to be considered were divided into four sets: document security, illegal immigration, public order and security as well as external relations items linked to the movement of persons.

The intention of European Commission to start visa liberalization dialogue with countries of Western Balkan was announced on November 6th, 2007. In this dialogue Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia were included. All mentioned countries were aware that this is the important step forward as preparation for EU membership. Due to that all these countries accepted to implement necessary reforms towards achieving needed objectives.

Announcement and proposal

After few years, few reforms and expert missions to the countries of Western Balkan, Commission decided to make a proposal for Council. After presentation of updated versions of the assessment reports to the Council (May 25th, 2009) and presentation of reports to the countries concerned (June, 11th and 12th, 2009), Council Working Parties concluded on June 15th, 2009 that they "welcome the updated assessment reports presented by the European Commission on the progress in the visa liberalization dialogues with these countries. The reports reflect the clear progress made by these countries in meeting the benchmarks set out in the visa liberalization roadmaps. In this context, the Council encourages the European Commission to present as soon as possible a legislative proposal amending Regulation (EC) No 539/200, as it applies to the Member States, in order to achieve a visa free regime ideally by the end of 2009 with those countries that will have met all the benchmarks."

According to Jacques Barrot, the Vice President of the Commission in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security, this proposal "brings truly good news to the people of the Western Balkans, in particular to the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of Montenegro and Serbia. I know how much visa free travel means to them. Today's proposal is the result of intensive and hard work for the authorities and the people of these countries in meeting the conditions. I congratulate them for this achievement".

Although dialogue was led with Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, these countries didn't succeed in obtaining their free visas because they, despite great progress made, left series of benchmarks opened. The only country which met all conditions was the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Serbia and Montenegro are expected to fulfill remained benchmarks later.

Regarding Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Olli Rehn said that he "believe both countries will soon catch up with their neighbours. If all the conditions are fulfilled, the Commission could envisage making a new proposal, which would include them, by mid-2010."

Kosovo is yet problem for itself. That is why persons residing in Kosovo are under charge of specific Coordination Directorate in Belgrade, which will collect their passport applications and the issuance of passports. Due to prevention of illegal immigration, the owners of Serbian passports issued by fore mentioned Coordination Directorate must be excluded from visa free regime for Serbia.

After January 1st, 2010 it will surely get more clear picture who and how often will benefit from moving to once unreachable "positive" list. And that is if Council approves Commissions proposal.


(Published: 20.08.2009.)