Dec 26,
2023. Posted by Balkan
Periscope - Hellas
Until
recently, the scenes in front of the doors of the embassies of Western
countries in Kosovo were filled with citizens.
Those who wanted to travel
abroad were forced to wait in long lines and go through a long and arduous
process to secure a visa to the countries in the Schengen Area.
Now the
situation is different. From January next year, Kosovo becomes part of the
visa-free travel regime, the last of the countries in the Western Balkans.
On April
19, the European Parliament signed the legal act for the liberalization of
visas for the citizens of Kosovo, which also marked the last step in the visa
liberalization process.
"It
will bring liberalization and facilities for every field or sector of economic
and social life in our country, starting from the field of sports, culture,
education and education because the various university, sports, cultural
exchanges will increase significantly and will be facilitated and this 24-year
suffering of Kosovars waiting in foreign embassies has ended and I think it is
a new era which factors Kosovo's citizenship", said Asdren Bytyqi, a
lawyer by profession.
"This
has been much better for the careers of us young people and for education, work
or professionalism to achieve compared to careers in Europe, I saw there how
things work even though theoretically we have days, but now this is an
opportunity to see practically", Tanzu Sylejmani, director by profession.
According
to a survey conducted by the online newspaper "Shegenvisa" with the
citizens of Kosovo, it is said that over 80 percent of respondents have travel
plans for 2024, after the liberalization of visas, while the main destinations
were Germany and Switzerland. The remaining 20 percent of respondents who are
undecided or will not travel in 2024 cite financial reasons for their decision.
The
authorities in Kosovo have organized a campaign of several weeks for the
correct information of the citizens on the facilities and restrictions brought
by the liberalization of visas.
The regime
means the possibility of visa-free travel for up to 90 days, within six months,
in any of the member states of the Schengen area, but it is not a work permit.
"I
call on all citizens of Kosovo to respect all the rules that are part of this
visa liberalization system," said President Vjosa Osmani.
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