The representatives of the Parliament and the European Council reached an agreement on visa liberalization for Kosovo on Wednesday.

“On Wednesday, the negotiating teams of the Parliament and the Council reached the long-awaited agreement on the liberalization of visas for Kosovo”, it is stated in the press release of the European Parliament.

“The lifting of visas will come into force when the European travel system, ETIAS, is operational, in any case no later than January 1, 2024,” this announcement states. ETIAS requires that foreign citizens, who travel without a visa to the territory of the EU, register their data in this system before travel.

On behalf of the EP, the negotiations with the Council were conducted by the rapporteur on the issue of visa liberalization for Kosovo, Dutchman Thijs Reuten.

“Finally, citizens of Kosovo will be able to travel for vacations, family visits, or for business reasons in the EU, without having to apply for visas. This is a very important moment for the European future of this country,” he said.

Now the agreement must be voted on in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) in the European Parliament, and then in the plenary session. After that, it is confirmed by the Council of the EU. After completing these procedures, citizens will be able to travel to the EU on January 1, 2024, at the latest.