The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has criticized the European Union for its reluctance to liberalize visas for Kosovo, saying that the calls of the European Parliament to do so are being met with deaf ears. She said this in a video speech at a conference on Bulgaria ‘s Western Balkans.
“Despite the fact that they have met all our requirements, the citizens of Kosovo continue to need visas to enter the European Union. The repeated calls of the European Parliament have met with deaf ears. “Not only is this dishonest, but it also damages the credibility of the EU and makes us weaker,” she said.
Metsola also demanded that a date be set for the start of membership negotiations with Albania and northern Macedonia. She said that Serbia “has seriously stalled in adapting its positions to those of the EU.
The President of the European Parliament, Metsola, has warned that Russia is trying to destabilize the Western Balkans and the EU must be vigilant.
“War ghosts are still alive in the Balkans, but EU integration will bring much-needed fresh air to overcome the past. “This integration is essential for the Balkans, but also for the EU,” she said.
Calling the EU enlargement process a great success with transformative powers, she reiterated that the European Parliament will continue to be a strong supporter of enlargement.
The European Parliament for years has demanded visa liberalization for Kosovo and the start of membership negotiations with Albania and northern Macedonia. In the case of Kosovo, the Parliament has given the necessary consent after the recommendation of the European Commission.
