The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the recommendation for second reading contained in the report by Thijs REUTEN (S&D, NL) on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kosovo).
The competent committee recommended that the European Parliament approve the Council's position at first reading without amendment.
The Council's position at first reading reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council in the framework of the inter-institutional negotiations at the early second reading stage.
The proposed Regulation aims at transferring the reference to ‘Kosovo’ from Annex I (list of countries subject to visa requirement) to Annex II (list of countries visa exempted) in Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. As a consequence, holders of Kosovo biometric passports should enjoy visa-free travel for short stays (i.e. up to 90 days in any 180-day period) in the European Union.
The visa waiver should apply from the date of entry into operation of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), established by Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Visa liberalisation would become effective as of 1 January 2024, in conjunction with the launch of the EU-wide European Travel Information and Authorisation Process (ETIAS) system which digitally processes details of those travelling into the bloc.