Today the Berlin Process convenes under the auspices of Angela Merkel. Here you can watch the statement of the IIP President, Hannes Swoboda, on the freedom of movement for all Western Balkan citizens travelling within the region and throughout the Schengen area, and on the Berlin Process! Also, you can find the Joint Statement initiated by the Balkan Forum on the“Request to the EU Member States and Western Balkans leaders: Enable the freedom of movement for all the Western Balkan citizens” attached to this post!
HANNES SWOBODA STATEMENT
Request to the EU Member States and Western Balkans leaders: Enable the freedom of movement for all the Western Balkan citizens
We, the undersigned organisations and individuals from the Western Balkans and European Union are urging the WB6 governments and the European Union Member State leaders to act swiftly in abolishing the visa regimes and establishing the freedom of movement for all Western Balkan citizens travelling within the region and throughout the Schengen area.
The existing barriers to freedom of movement within the region and throughout the Schengen area have been breaking family ties, harming businesses, inhibiting student and academic exchange, and preventing regional cooperation and development.
The movement of WB6 citizens inside the region continues to be challenging due to passport restrictions, as in the case of travelling between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Governments need to understand that roads, tunnels and railways will not serve WB6 countries fully unless provisions are facilitating the free movement of people, goods and services inside the region.
Similarly, opportunities for WB6 citizens are much more limited when it comes to contributing to and benefiting from regional projects but also to larger EU programs which have proven to be beneficial for students, researchers and young entrepreneurs - such as the Erasmus+ Program - offering life-changing experiences to EU citizens. When such opportunities are present, they tend to be available only to people in the Western Balkan region whose passport allows them to travel more easily, without going through the lengthy and costly procedures of acquiring a Schengen visa.
Passport restrictions and visa regimes within the region are significant obstacles that have to be resolved urgently. The upcoming Western Balkan Summit in Berlin is a major opportunity for abolishing the visa regime and enabling the freedom of movement in the region.
Exploring the potential of human capital within the Berlin Process has been vital, which enabled the involvement of youth and civil society as promoters of social change and seen as an investment in people’s mobility. EU support has often been missing this social aspect, which can have a meaningful and sustainable impact on citizens and societies.
Visa liberalisation benefiting the five Western Balkan countries since 2009 was the biggest incentive to the economic development of the region. After the introduction of the visa liberalisation for the Western Balkans, the trade of the region with the EU increased almost two and a half times.
However, citizens of Kosovo remain the only ones in the region that need a visa to travel to the Schengen area. Despite the fact that in 2018, the European Commission confirmed that Kosovo had fulfilled all the benchmarks of the visa liberalisation roadmap, and the European Parliament has voted in favour of the Commission’s proposal, the latter is still pending in the European Council.
The EU should take a responsible role and preserve its credibility in the region by delivering on its promises given to Kosovo citizens and grant visa liberalisation to Kosovo this year. By granting visa liberaliation to all citizens of the Western Balkan region, the EU would be fulfilling on its promise, and delivering on its core value - the freedom of movement.
Signatories alphabetically:
1. Afrim Maliqi, Director of HANDIKOS - Association of paraplegics and paralysed children of Kosovo
2. Albana Veseli, Board Member of the Western Balkans Alumni Association, Kosovo
3. Albulena Nrecaj, Executive Director of the Initiative for Progress (INPO), Kosovo
4. Anida Šabanović, Director of the Foreign Policy Initiative BH, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. Antonio Mihajlov, Senior Adviser at the Subversive Front, North Macedonia
6. Arben Hajrullahu, Executive Director of the Center for Political Courage, Kosovo
7. Arjeta Maka, Activist at the NGO "Divine Woman" NGO, Kosovo
8. Astrit Istrefi, Executive Director, The Balkan Forum
9. Aulonë Memeti, Executive Director of Admovere, Kosovo
10. Avdyl Gashi, Director of the Global Shapers Community Prishtina, Kosovo
11. Avni Dervishi, Head of Global Sector for Diaspora Power, Sweden
12. Azra Berbić, Program Coordinator at the Post-Conflict Research Center, Bosnia and Herzegovina
13. Bashkim Ibishi, Director of the Advancing Together, Kosovo
14. Besmir Kokollari, Qualitative Institute for Researches, Analysis and Trainings "iCHAT", Kosovo
15. Burim Ejupi, Executive Director, Institute for Development Policy (INDEP), Kosovo
16. Damir Radeković, President of the Youth Center Vermont, Bosnia and Herzegovina
17. Dina Bajramspahić, Civil Society Activist, Montenegro
18. Drita Shabani, MSc. in professional studies for public administration, Engineer of Architecture, Kosovo
19. Egzona Bokshi, Civil Society Activist, Kosovo
20. Emina Bošnjak, Executive Director of the Sarajevo Open Center, Bosnia and Herzegovina
21. Emina Kuhinja, Researcher at the Foreign Policy Initiative BH, Bosnia and Herzegovina
22. Emrah Cermjani, Executive Director of the Roma in Action NGO, Kosovo
23. Erblin Hoxha, Executive Director of the Debate Center, Kosovo
24. Fikrije Ferizi, Executive Director of the OJQ Qendra e Gruas “ATO”, Kosovo
25. Florian Bieber, Professor for Southeast European History and Politics at the University of Graz, Austria
26. Françeska Muço, Executive Director of the Young Professionals Network, Albanian Youth Representative in the Governing Board of RYCO, Albania
27. Frank Morawietz, Managing Director of the Crossborder Factory, Germany
28. Gani Rashiti, Executive Director of the Center for Advocacy and Democracy Development (CADD), Serbia
29. Genc Broqi, Programs Manager at the Roma Versitas, Kosovo
30. Goran Svilanović, Diplomat, Serbia
31. Hannes Swoboda, President of the International Institute for Peace, Austria
32. Igballe Hajdari, Executive Director of the "Divine Woman" NGO, Kosovo
33. Jadranka Milicevic, Executive Director of the CURE Foundation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
34. Jonida Mersinllari, Board Member of the Western Balkans Alumni Association, Albania
35. Klaudjo Kavaja, Board Member of the Western Balkans Alumni Association, Albania
36. Leila Bičakčić, Executive Director of the Center for Investigative Reporting, Bosnia and Herzegovina
37. Marigona Shabiu, Executive Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Kosovo
38. Mario Mažić, Founding Partner of the Europe&Southeast Consultancy, Croatia
39. Marjola Memaj, Youth Activist & Trainee at the European Parliament, Albania
40. Mentor Boja, Social Worker at the Union of Kosova, Kosovo
41. Miloš Perović, Executive Director of the ALFA Centar, Montenegro
42. Miralem Tursinović, Director of the Youth Resource Center, Bosnia and Herzegovina
43. Mite Kuzevski, Foundation for debate and education IDEA Southeast Europe, North Macedonia
44. Naim Rashiti, Executive Director of the Balkans Policy Research Group, Kosovo
45. Randall Puljek-Shank, PhD, Bosnian-American Friendship Association, Bosnia and Herzegovina
46. Regjë Mulaj, Executive Director of the OJQ “VISION 02”, Kosovo
47. Remzije Duli, CEO at the Building Blocks For Success, Kosovo
48. Sabahudin Mujkić, Board Member of the Western Balkans Alumni Association, Bosnia and Herzegovina
49. Samir Agić, Executive Director of the Center for Education and Socialising (COD Jajce), Bosnia and Herzegovina
50. Sebastian Schäffer, Managing Director of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe, Austria
51. Senada Šelo Šabić, Institute for Development and International Relations, Croatia
52. Silvia Nadjivan, Political Scientist and Author, Austria
53. Stephanie Fenkart, Director of the International Institute for Peace, Austria
54. Ulrike Lunacek, Vice-President of the European Citizens Forum and the former European Parliament‘s Vice-President and Rapporteur for Kosovo, Austria
55. Valon Arifi, Human Rights Activist, Serbia
56. Vebi Mujku, Executive Director of the Instituti për Zhvillimin e Politikave Sociale, Kosovo
57. Vedran Džihić, Senior Researcher at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs, Austria
58. Vehbi Goxhuli, Executive Director, OJQ Gjeomjedisi, Kosovo
59. Veton Mujaj, Executive Director of the "Syri i Vizonit" NGO, Kosovo
60. Visar Azemi, Executive Director of the Balkan Green Foundation, Kosovo
61. Visar Haxhifazliu, Executive Director of the THY NGO, Kosovo
62. Visar Hoti, CEO at TV TEMA, Kosovo
63. Visare Berisha Shabani, Executive Director, Assist Kosovo Center – Assist, Kosovo
64. Xhabir Deralla, President of the Center for Freedom - CIVIL, North Macedonia