The successive steering committee meeting for visa liberalization is held

Whereas, regarding reintegration process, Prime Minister stated: “We have to create best possible conditions for reintegration of repatriated persons, especially for serious cases with special medical needs, as well for the communities in need of institutional care. We should also focus on further improvement of document security at local level, respectively municipal offices of civil status should enhance the security of facilities, equipments and areas where they operate, also, municipal officials who are engaged in these offices should, without exception, use the new civil status system, otherwise some of these officials will not be certified and the offices will be revoked the permit for issuance of personal documents “.

As for the visa liberalization Prime Minister has stated that: “Implementation of strategies regarding the fight against organized crime, corruption, human trafficking, as well the inter-institutional cooperation between law enforcement institutions are preconditions for visa liberalization. Regarding the abovementioned, we need commitment, engagement and uncompromising action against negative phenomena. This priority is of our society and not just for visa liberalization process, therefore fighting negative phenomena has been and will remain a priority for all of us”.

During the meeting, Minister Çitaku, has focused on concrete issues regarding for more effective implementation of the action plan on visa liberalization and addressing the main conclusions of the respective blocks.

In the area of repatriation and reintegration, Minister Çitaku stated: “The developments about reintegration of repatriated persons should be followed as closely as possible in order to have an efficient monitoring process, and their reintegrating in society be more successful “.

Regarding Repatriation and Reintegration block, further development of the readmission system for persons belonging to vulnerable groups such as: unaccompanied children, elderly persons, persons with illnesses that are not treated in Kosovo, as well the beginning of negotiations and signing of readmission agreements with countries of origin, were thoroughly discussed.

In this occasion, Minister Çitaku, stated: “Next challenge regarding the signing of readmission agreements remains the negotiation of agreements with countries of transition and origin. Due this reason we need to initiate agreements with these countries and to be more persistent in this regard, particularly with those countries that have recognized Republic of Kosovo. Also, efforts to negotiate readmission agreement with Turkey, Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, and Pakistan, as well starting new initiatives with countries like Nigeria and Libya, but also with other countries should be intensified “.

Whereas, addressing the main conclusions commencing from the first block which is Document Security, monitoring and investigation of cases regarding changing of the personal data and physical safety of civil status offices in local level, were discussed.

Regarding the second block which is the Border Management and Migration, finalization and signing the formal agreement on the demarcation of the border with Montenegro, financial cost of necessary budget allocation for the implementation of the strategy and action plan for IBM, full implementation of the visa regime, assurance of equipment, staff and the necessary software in all diplomatic representations of the Republic of Kosovo for the proper implementation of the visa regime, as well drafting of the Migration Profile involving all responsible institutions in this process, were discussed .

Regarding the third block which is Public Order and Security, implementation of the Law on THB, organizing awareness campaigns, addressing internal trafficking, continuous treatment of trafficked victims, further functionality of inter-institutional coordination mechanism in handling the cases of confiscation of property, functionality of witness protection system, necessary staffing of the Kosovo Police, procurement of appropriate equipments, and creating special facilities in the courts for testimonies of protected witnesses, as well Completion of selection procedures of liaison police officers and deploying them in places they are supposed to act, were discussed.

Regarding the fourth block which is Human Rights and Protection of Minorities; Addressing the concrete measures against discrimination and monitoring, implementation of Ombudsman’s recommendations from the institutions of Republic of Kosovo, addressing ethnically motivated incidents, including harmonization of statistics as well as the full functionality of all Municipal Community Safety Councils, were discussed.

Whereas, regarding the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), Minister Çitaku informed the participants about the progress in the negotiation process of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, namely the commencing of negotiations on 28 October. While, during the second part of the meeting, progress in addressing the mid-term criteria, was discussed.