BERLIN PROCESS - Request to the EU Member States and Western Balkans leaders: Enable the freedom of movement for all the Western Balkan citizens

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