VISA LIBERALISATION STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister of Kosovo Mr. Hashim Thaçi stated: “We are less than three working days apart from the fact finding mission which will assess the implementation of criteria’s of three out of five blocks on visa liberalization, therefore we have invited you to discuss on the necessary preparations for the progress of this fact finding mission. This mission will assess the progress we have achieved up to date, due to the fact that for a long time there has been no such assessment by the European Commission. In fact, it has been a year since the European Commission conducted the last assessment on the Visa Liberalisation, and due to this reason I expect, and I am certain, that the officials which will meet with the EU experts will be able to present a very advanced situation in comparison to the one from last year, thus proving the commitment and seriousness that we have shown during this time.”

The Prime Minister continued stating that: “We all are aware of the importance that Visa Liberalisation process has for our country, due to this reason, I expect from you that in the first week of December to be prepared in maximum, to ensure that you’re staff is well prepared, ready and equipped with necessary information and statistics to present the work done so far. This mission will assess the first three blocks, respectively, implementation of criteria’s related to the field of repatriation and reintegration, personal document security, migration and asylum. While the remaining blocks remain to be decided by the European Commission when they will do a conduct similar assessment to the assessment in question. In the meantime, we need to prove with facts and evidences that the work which is done so far regarding the implementation of these criteria’s and to ensure that we will implement in continuity the criteria’s of other blocks.

During the meeting, Minister Çitaku focused in concrete issues which refer to preparations conducted on documenting the implementation of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan and addressing key conclusions from respective blocks.

On this occasion Minister Çitaku stated: “It is my pleasure to discuss today the preparation for the fact finding mission, with the regular members of the Visa Liberalisation Steering Committee and other officials from central and municipal institutions with whom the experts of the European Commission will have the opportunity to meet and obtain the necessary information on the implementation Visa Liberalisation criteria`s. In this case I ask you, that in the meetings with the EU officials to affirmatively present the achievements of our country, have with you all the necessary documentation which covers these fields, that you have used to implement this criteria. Furthermore, you need to be equipped with necessary reports by which you will prove the implementation of the criteria`s in question.

Minister Çitaku also stated that: “Regarding the undertaken preparations, we have already negotiated the agenda for fact-finding mission, set up meetings in central and local level, compiled the list of the officials which will be met, and held preparatory meetings with all the competent officials in central and municipal level with whom the assessment mission is expected to meet. At the end of the week we expect to conclude a factual report which we will share with the EU experts, and for which one if it’s needed or requested by the European Commission we can also elaborate it on details. At the end, Minister Çitaku, thanked the MIA and MEI officials for the work they have done during all this time, in order to enable a better assessment, particularly the visa Secretariat who testified a true commitment and professionalism, and without them these preparations would not advance on this level.