Faeser: Serbia’s visa policy “not very good”

However, Faeser explains what he thinks about Serbia’s visa policy: not much. This is “not very good” because it is based on which states do not recognize Kosovo. “I don’t think that’s acceptable either.” In fact, Serbia’s visa policy is closely tied to Serbia’s claims – questionable by international law – to Kosovo, which is almost exclusively inhabited by Albanians. Belgrade is seeking revenge on countries that did not recognize or have withdrawn their recognition of the former Serbian province, which has been independent since 2008.

Since 2017, travelers from India do not need a visa to Serbia. Burundi withdrew its recognition of Kosovo in 2018, after which Serbia abolished visa requirements for its citizens. According to EU documents, the visa policies of other Western Balkan countries such as Albania or Montenegro also differ from those of the European Union, but to a lesser extent.

Regulations in different EU countries

So what can be done to ensure that fewer unwanted migrants come to the EU? Several EU countries have established facts. The Czech Republic introduced controls on its border with Slovakia two weeks ago. Officials have arrested more than 2,500 illegal migrants and more than 50 people smugglers. Slovakia in turn introduced controls on the border with Hungary, Austria on the border with Slovakia. And despite the fact that stationary border control in the Schengen area should be an exception. Germany retains control of the border with Austria.

There are already dramatic scenes in the Czech Republic: in the Zlin region, police officers fire warning shots to stop smugglers on the run. In early October, six refugees were seriously injured when their smuggler’s car crashed while chasing police.

Serbia promises change

So something had to be done, which was largely approved by the interior ministers in Luxembourg. According to Home Affairs Commissioner Johansson, there should be more protection of external borders and there should be closer cooperation with Western Balkan countries, for example on returns and against smuggling. At least there was some movement on the Serbian side. President Aleksandar Vucic promised a change in visa policy by the end of the year – but did not mention any concrete steps.

After Friday’s meeting, Johansson got a little more specific: Serbia has promised that the country will first adjust its visa policy – initially towards highly relevant countries like India, Burundi and Tunisia. There will be close cooperation with Serbia and other Western Balkan countries. He expects them to adapt their policies to those of the European Union – and it probably will.

A better argument in talks with Serbia lies with the EU, as Faeser found, after all countries attempted to join the confederation. However, this has not convinced Belgrade to join EU sanctions against Russia over the war against Ukraine. Faeser was referring to the Balkans conference in Berlin next week, which Serbia will also attend. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan demanded: “Serbia must help us.”