Although the government is obviously striving to make some progress in terms of gaining visa liberalization, the EU does not seem to be impressed. Not addressing the Kosovo status issue, the EU has recently accepted the role of mediator in a newly launched technical dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo (UN Res 1244).

Unlike its Balkan neighbors, it remains the only country that has not yet specified where exactly it stands on the path towards EU integration. There is no visa roadmap, no Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), and, needless to say, no EU membership application.

The European Commission Liaison Office in Prishtina underlines that the visa facilitation measures should not be overlooked. Pending the entry into force of a possible visa free regime, it is important to focus on how the visa process can be facilitated for some categories of applicants (for example, students, researchers, members of civil society organizations, etc.). The EU already has several visa facilitation agreements with countries as diverse as Albania, Ukraine or Moldova. These measures include, for instance, lower visa fees, simplified visa procedures or more scholarships and exchange programs for students and researchers.

To read the full article by Maja Šoštarić at balkanalysis.com (published May 29, 2011) follow this link: http://www.balkanalysis.com/kosovo/2011/05/29/kosovo%E2%80%99s-visa-liberalization-troubles-trying-to-get-to-heaven-before-they-close-the-door/