Exempting Kosovo residents from entry visas to the European Union

European deputies agreed on Tuesday to exempt Kosovo citizens from entry visas to European Union countries for a short period.

Kosovo nationals will be allowed to travel within the EU - and EU nationals to travel to Kosovo - without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti welcomed the "excellent news" which "brings us a little closer to the European Union".

Kosovo is the only country among the Western Balkan countries that has not yet benefited from the "Schengen" visa exemption.

This exemption, supported by the European Parliament since 2016, will enter into force no later than 2024.

In December 2022, Kosovo's leaders signed an official application for membership in the European Union, a long path full of obstacles exacerbated by the tense relations between Pristina and Belgrade.

And Kosovo is the last in the Balkans to apply for membership in the European Union after Brussels granted Bosnia and Herzegovina the status of a candidate country to join the bloc.
However, five member states of the European Union are Greece, Spain, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus do not recognize the independence of Kosovo.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade, along with Russia and China, did not recognize this step.

Serbia still considers Kosovo part of its territory.
Kosovo cannot gain membership in the European Union without normalizing relations with Belgrade.