The Council decided today to grant visa exemption for citizens from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro and Serbia when entering the EU/Schengen area.

“Citizens from these countries wishing to celebrate Christmas with their friends and relations in the Schengen area can now do so without needing visas. The links between these three countries and the EU have been strengthened through this decision which is very important for the development of our relations. I look forward to the day when we can also decide on visa exemption for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” says Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström.

The decision is of great importance for the citizens concerned and is a major step forward in these countries’ EU integration process. Visa exemption enables citizens from the Western Balkans and the EU to be drawn more closely together. New opportunities for exchange and cooperation are opened up.

Visa exemption will apply as of 19 December 2009 and include visitors travelling with a biometric passport for stays of up to 90 days within a six-month period.

Background:

The European Commission initiated dialogues on visa exemption with the Western Balkan countries in the spring of 2008. In connection with these, roadmaps were adopted containing criteria for these countries to meet in order for visa exemption to be introduced. These roadmaps were individually designed according to the needs of each country and require heightened document security, a well-developed asylum system, increased minority protection, advanced border cooperation and strengthened legislation to prevent organised crime and corruption.

The Commission’s evaluation has now shown that FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia meet all the roadmap criteria.

Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina still have some criteria to fulfil. However, the Presidency hopes that both these countries will now focus on the remaining reforms, so that decisions on visa exemption can be also taken for their citizens.

Since the regional aspect is important in this context, the Council and the European Parliament have drawn up a joint statement. The statement, which was also adopted at today’s Council meeting, aims to encourage Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet the final criteria necessary for visa exemption to be introduced.