Upcoming Visa Liberalization Steering Committee meeting was held

Kosovo Prime Minister, Mr. Thaçi, said:  Let me open this meeting by thanking everyone of you, for your work and commitment in implementing the visa liberalization criteria. We witnessed a significant progress in the field of readmission, document security, border management, fighting organized crime, corruption and implementation of criteria related to the rights of communities. This progress was achieved being thankful to your commitment, but also the staff commitment without whom this progress would not be achieved. However, this success does not allow us to relax and to diminish further implementation focus of the remaining criteria ahead of us.

Prime Minister Thaçi urged from the ministers, commitment and continuous prioritization of visa liberalization process from any officer of the department that they cover, and urged implementation of the European Commission criteria and recommendations in record time, also called ministers to personally monitor the implementation of criteria and to require accountability from your staff whenever the  criteria are not met on time and with proper quality as the weeks and months ahead are crucial for the visa liberalization process.

In here speech, Minister Çitaku addressed to the attendees: As National Coordinator for Visa Liberalization together with the Minister Rexhepi, we have the pleasure to appreciate the dedication and commitment of all colleagues from institutions of the Republic of Kosovo regarding the implementation of the necessary criteria, hereby I want like to thank the Assembly of the Republic of Kosova for adoption of legislation package, also the independent agencies who are unconditionally committed to this process and have managed to do a great job. Minister specially thanked the Kosovo Police management who have shown a serious commitment to fighting organized crime and corruption as well as combating trafficking in smuggling human beings.

Minister Çitaku informed that preliminary results show that the number of illegal migrants from Kosovo has dropped significantly and this is to be hailed, this change is primarily a result of the awareness of our citizens that illegal migration is not an option, they have understood that it`s not worthy to endanger life or to spend financial resources in an adventure that in each case ends with their repatriation to Kosovo. Minister Çitaku also emphasized that considered progress is noted also to community rights, freedom of movement and basic rights. However, our focus in the future should be at further and sustainable integration of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities and respect of LGBT rights. Minister Çitaku stated that we are in the final stage, and what we need to do is to mobilize all the capabilities and reach the target successfully.  Following weeks and months really are final, we are awaiting assessment missions which should find us prepared, and our staff should be prepared to answer all questions, explain the enforcement of relevant laws and regulations, to present the achievements and plans that are being undertaken in practice.

Following were discussed relevant criteria’s disaggregated according to the blocks, also were extracted conclusions, whose monitoring will take place in the upcoming weeks and months.