THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON THURSDAY ANNOUNCED A STEP THAT SHOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS TO GET VISAS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE EU EXECUTIVE SAID IT WAS RECOMMENDING TO MEMBER STATES THE OPENING OF NEGOTIATIONS TO FACILITATE SHORT-STAY VISAS FOR BOSNIA, SERBIA, MONTENEGRO AND ALBANIA AND READMISSION AGREEMENTS WITH THE FORMER THREE. THE PROPOSALS WOULD ENTITLE STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS TO FREE VISAS, WHILE OTHER CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRIES WOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM VISA PRICE INCREASES. PAPERWORK NEEDED TO OBTAIN VISAS WOULD BE SIMPLIFIED AND PROCESSING SPEEDED UP. "THESE AGREEMENTS ARE CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT," EU JUSTICE COMMISSIONER FRANCO FRATTINI SAID IN A STATEMENT. "ON THE ONE HAND VISA FACILITATION WILL CREATE SIMPLIFIED TRAVELLING CONDITIONS TO AND WITHIN THE EU FOR SPECIFIC CATEGORIES OF CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED WHILST ... ENSURING THE RETURN OF THOSE WHO ARE ILLEGALLY RESIDING IN THE EU TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES." FRATTINI URGED MEMBER STATES TO ADOPT THE PROPOSALS WITHOUT DELAY, SAYING THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE BALKAN COUNTRIES WOULD BENEFIT FROM INCREASED COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ORGANISED CRIME, CORRUPTION AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND FROM BETTER BORDER CONTROLS. THE COMMISSION IS ALSO KEEN TO SHOW CITIZENS OF THE BALKAN COUNTRIES THE BENEFITS OF CLOSER TIES WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION, WHICH THEY HOPE EVENTUALLY TO JOIN. OLLI REHN, THE COMMISSIONER IN CHARGE OF ENLARGEMENT, SAID VISA FACILITATION WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ORDINARY CITIZENS. "TO GET EASIER ACCESS TO VISAS WOULD MAKE THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE MORE CONCRETE TO ALL CITIZENS," HE SAID, REFERRING TO THE LONG-TERM PROSPECT OF THE BALKAN STATES JOINING THE BLOC. ONCE APPROVED BY THE MEMBER STATES, THE PROPOSAL WILL GO BACK TO THE COMMISSION, WHICH WILL CARRY OUT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BALKAN STATES.
