Europese Commissie wil onderhandelen over visa-overeenkomst met voormalige Joegoslavische republiek Macedonië (en)

Today the Commission agreed to recommend to the Council to authorise the Commission to open negotiations for the conclusion of agreements between the European Community and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the facilitation of issuance of short-stay visas and on readmission.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is the first country in the Western Balkans with which the Commission has proposed to enter into negotiation of such agreements.

Vice President Frattini will present the Commission's proposal at the Vienna Ministerial Conference on the role of internal security on 4 and 5 May.

Background

In The Hague Programme, the Council and the Commission were asked to develop a common approach for the issuance of short-stay visas to third country nationals. The common approach agreed in Coreper in December 2005 confirmed the link between visa facilitation and readmission agreements.

The Commission announced its intention to start exploratory talks with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the Communication on Western Balkans adopted in January 2006.

The Commission's recommendations are aimed at fulfilling these commitments.

In that context visa facilitation is a first, transitional step towards visa liberalisation.

The pace of progress in implementing major reforms in areas such as the strengthening of the rule of law, combating organised crime, corruption and illegal migration and the strengthening of their administrative capacity in border control and security of documents will determine the time needed to reach that objective.