EU starts visa dialogue with Kosovo

The European Commission on Thursday launched its visa liberalisation dialogue with Kosovo, a long-awaited decision hailed by Pristina.

The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom, said in Pristina on Thursday that the EU had set the ball rolling on the issue, after the country had fulfilled a set of conditions.

“What we are doing today is that we are here to confirm that conditions have been met to initiate the dialogue,” Malmstrom told reporters.

“I know how important visa-free travel is to the citizens of Kosovo and I’m happy that we’ve now set the ball rolling.”

The talks on the modalities of the dialogue will be addressed by Malmstrom during talks with the government in Pristina.