Today, this Wednesday May 28, 2008, took place in Podgorica an official ceremony during which a delegation from the European Commission Directorate-General for Enlargement headed by its Director for Western Balkans, Mr. Pierre Mirel, presented the Roadmap on visa-regime liberalisation to Montenegrin Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Milan Roćen, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Mrs. Gordana Đurović in charge of European Integration, and Minister of Interior Mr. Jusuf Kalamperović.

The document gives clear indications to the Montenegrin authorities on the measures that need to be taken to allow its citizens visa free travel in the Schengen area — 22 European Union Member States and 2 associated States, Norway and Iceland. Main points of the Roadmap concern improving the safety of passports and other identification documents, strengthening Montenegro co-operation with its neighbours in security and judicial affairs, increasing security at border points and intensifying the fight against corruption, organised crime and illegal migration.

“How fast we will go forward will only depend on ourselves,” said Minister Roćen after receiving the Roadmap. “All governmental agencies will now have to work very hard. We will approach each step with responsibly, not because of the European Union monitoring but because of us.” Minister Roćen added hoping Montenegro to enter the Schengen zone in the course of next year.

Roadmap on visa-regime liberalisation, May 8, 2008

On the occasion of this ceremony in Podgorica, the new European Commission Vice-President in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security, Mr. Jacques Barrot [1], welcomed from Brussels, Belgium, the handing-over of the Roadmap on visa-regime liberalisation to Montenegrin officials through the following press release:

“I attach the greatest importance to facilitating people to people contacts in particular for the younger generation. I am convinced that easy travel conditions will increase mutual understanding and improve our relations in all fields. The roadmap on visa facilitation is certainly another important step towards the European Union integration of Montenegro. But the roadmap offers more advantages to the citizens of Montenegro” Vice-President Barrot continued, “as it will encourage the country to continue implementing the relevant reforms and reinforcing cooperation at regional level and with the EU in areas such as strengthening the rule of law, fighting organised crime and corruption.”

Since January 1st, 2008, the Montenegrin citizens enjoy the benefits of a visa facilitation agreement with the European Union. This agreement provides simplified procedures for issuing visas, including a visa fee waiver for a broad range of categories of citizens including students, sportsmen and sportswomen, cultural workers, journalists, judges, people visiting family members living in the European Union, people in need of medical treatment, businessmen etc. Up to 50% of the Montenegrin citizens can currently be exempt from the visa fee. People who pay for visa are charged the special reduced rate of 35 euros instead of 60 euros.

Yet the European Union sent another strong message of openness and encouragement to all citizens of Montenegro. The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) of January 28, 2008 welcomed this step and invited the Commission to present detailed roadmaps setting clear benchmarks to be met by all the countries in the region in order to gradually advance towards visa liberalisation. In February 2008, the dialogue on visa liberalisation with Montenegro was launched. The Roadmap presented officially today is a concrete step towards visa liberalisation.

The Roadmap follows a balanced approach setting benchmarks which are realistic and achievable in the near future. It sets clear requirements for the reforms to be implemented in key areas such as security of documents, border management, fight against illegal migration, fight against organised crime and corruption and also in the area of fundamental rights.

The process will be closely monitored by the Commission assisted by Member States’ experts. The Commission will report regularly on the implementation of the Roadmap and will eventually consider the possibility to present a proposal for the lifting of the visa obligation for citizens of Montenegro.

Background

In line with General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) conclusions dated January 28, 2008, the Commission opened a structured dialogue on visa-regime liberalisation with 5 Western Balkan countries (Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania) during the first months of 2008.

In its March 2008 Communication on the Western Balkans, the Commission stated that it will develop detailed roadmaps setting up clear benchmarks to be met in the coming years in order to advance towards visa liberalisation. The Commission is currently working on the Roadmaps for the other countries that will be presented in the coming weeks.

Having in mind the wide range of issues relevant for the visa-regime liberalisation dialogue and the need to establish an adequately secured context for visa free travel, the objective of the Roadmap is to set up clear requirements and identify all the measures that need to be adopted and implemented by the Western Balkan countries in the near future.

The effective implementation of the Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements is a concrete stage and pre-condition for the success of the visa liberalisation dialogue.

The Roadmap identifies four sets of issues to be covered by the dialogue: document security, illegal migration, public order and security as well as external relations and fundamental rights items linked to the movement of persons. Key elements of the blocks include: improvement of document security and in particular the introduction of biometrics in travel documents, better management of migratory risks, efficient law enforcement cooperation including cooperation with Europol and enhanced measures to fight against organised crime and corruption.

The dialogue will allow each country to focus reform efforts and address the EU’s requirements. The speed of movement towards visa liberalisation will depend on the progress made by each of the countries in fulfilling the conditions set.

Concerning the structure, the dialogue will be conducted by senior officials who could decide to organise technical meetings at expert level for specific items. The Commission will report regularly to the Council on the implementation of the Roadmap. The whole process will allow the Commission to make a proposal at the appropriate moment to the Council for the lifting of the visa obligation for the Montenegrin citizens.

Press release n° IP/08/808, May 28, 2008