Thursday, September 17, 2009

Why no visa facilitation for all?

Europe opens the door to Western Balkans. Since 2010th citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia will be able to travel without visas in the country "Schengen". On the other hand, BiH, Albania and Kosovo remains true to the previous regime. The new visa regulations discussed yesterday (16.9.) In Strasbourg. German member of the European Parliament Doris Pack was supported by a new European Union regulations, but also criticized the fact that it is not true for all citizens of the Western Balkans.



"I do not believe that it is possible to make much difference in a region that is so connected. This is the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina punish ethnic groups that suffered most there. If Bosnia does not receive a visa facilitation, and neighboring states have it, then the Serbs and Croats in the privileged position. This put the Muslims in the ghetto, and it certainly is not good. "



Financial support for biometric passports
One of the conditions for visa regime liberalization is issuing biometric passports that are difficult to forge. The European Commission concluded that Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania do not meet this requirement, including for financial reasons. Bulgarian deputy Andrei Kovacev therefore proposes that EU countries that provide the necessary assistance.



"They need to take all necessary technical measures. Thus, biometric passports and all other standards - information exchange, cooperation between the police and so on. In Parliament we have extensively discussed the possibilities to financially assist these countries to achieve and the standard. "



Turn off the Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of visa liberalization particularly criticized the Green Party from whose ranks could be heard to remark that the mock war victims in that country. However, for most of the European Parliament that is only part of the truth.



The responsibility of politicians
Bosnian politicians have not fulfilled your task and time alone are responsible for the delay in visa liberalization, said the Doris Pack.



"We should influence the politicians to do their job. The problem is that politicians in the region do not try to seriously understand the important purposes, especially the young generation. Politicians have a visa freedom and fighting against each other just because of nationalistic ideals and ideas. Nobody is trying to strengthen the state. "



Brussels is trying to calm passions. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania will be in the "near future" to fulfill the necessary conditions for visa liberalization, says European Commissioner Jacques Barrot and emphasizes the need for closer cooperation with Brussels.



The European Commission expects that in the coming weeks to get important information about the state of things on the ground. In October the European Parliament could re-open the debate on visa liberalization for the Western Balkans.

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