The decision to liberalize the visa regime for the citizens of Kosovo the 27 EU ministers approved at the Home Affairs Council in Brussels on Thursday. The decision must enter into force by 1 January 2024 at the latest.

Kosovo was the last country in the region to still require visas for its citizens to enter the European Union, causing a major headache for Kosovars wanting to work, study, travel for leisure or visit family members .

After years of obstacles and changing requirements, the Commission has proposed lifting the visa regime to ensure that the entire Western Balkans region falls under the same regime.

The decision was approved at first reading without debate, as the permanent representatives of each member state had previously agreed on the matter at a previous meeting.

Based on the decision, citizens of Kosovo will be able to travel without a visa when the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is fully operational by early 2024 at the latest.

Swedish Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergaard said that “Kosovo has made great efforts to improve security and migration management and to align its visa policy with that of the EU. We hope that our cooperation in these areas will continue to be fruitful”.

The new rules will allow Kosovo passport holders to travel to the EU visa-free for 90 days in a 180-day period. The decision will, of course, have to be approved by the European Parliament before it is signed and published in the EU’s official journal.

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti tweeted that his country is “one step closer” and is “satisfied with the EU Council’s unanimous decision today in favor of visa-free travel for citizens of Kosovo. The long wait is coming to an end. We look forward to the forthcoming final steps from the European Parliament.”

The five states that do not recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty, namely Spain, Malta, Romania, Greece and Slovakia, also voted in favour.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed the news on Facebook.

“A step unfairly delayed for years was taken today by the EU, which finally removes the prejudice of treating Kosovo as if it were a country outside Europe! Congratulations not only to Kosovo but also to the European Union,” Rama wrote.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on Belgrade and Pristina as EU envoy Miroslav Lajčak is due to visit both capitals this week, just days before the two sides meet in Ohrid, North Macedonia, where he possible to take the next step for the normalization of relations between them.

Lajcak will spend two days in Pristina in intensive meetings with political figures, including the opposition, in preparation for the meeting in Ohrid on March 18.