The aim of the proposal is to simplify travel to the European Union countries participating in the common visa policy and those associated to the Schengen area for the citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, abolishing the obligation to apply for a short-term visa (up to 90 days) for the holders of biometric passports.

The proposal by the European Commission is the result of more than two years' work in the framework of the visa liberalisation dialogue which started with these two countries during the first semester of 2008.

In the context of the Western Balkans, the political objective of visa-free travel was set at the Thessaloniki European Council in 2003.

As a first step towards visa-free travel, the then European Community concluded visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania. In line with the Council conclusions of December 2007, visa liberalisation dialogues were opened with all five countries in the following months.

These dialogues were based on fulfilment of requirements listed in detailed roadmaps. The implementation was regularly and thoroughly assessed by the European Commission assisted by Member States expert missions. The progress allowed the lifting of visa obligation for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia in December 2009.

All EU countries taking part in the EU visa policy (all Member States except Ireland and the UK) and the ones associated to the Schengen area (Switzerland, Norway and Iceland) are concerned by this proposal.

In April 2010 the European Commission carried out a thorough assessment of the progress achieved by Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was shared with the European Parliament, the Council and the authorities of the countries concerned. The conclusions allowed proceeding with a proposal to grant visa free travel to these two countries today. It is now for the European Parliament and EU Member States in the Council to decide to adopt the proposal in the coming months.

The citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia are exempted from the short-term visa obligation as from last year. The visa waiver applies as from 19 December 2009 to holders of biometric passports.

Kosovo

Regarding residents of Kosovo, in line with the Communication of November 2009 "Kosovo – fulfilling its European perspective", the Commission will continue to work closely with the Kosovo authorities, examine progress regarding readmission and reintegration issues and explore options for addressing the visa issue in the future.