European representative Matjaž Nemec was appointed rapporteur for the visa abolition for citizens of Kosovo who hold passports from Serbia.

He confirmed the appointment through social media and said he expects a swift decision on lifting visas for Kosovo Serbs holding passports issued by Serbian authorities.

Kosovo citizens holding passports from the Republic of Kosovo have enjoyed visa-free travel since January 1 of this year.

However, this decision excluded those citizens holding passports issued by the Coordination Authority, which operates within the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs. They were excluded even when visas were lifted for Serbian citizens in December 2009.

With the decision to lift visas for Kosovo, citizens holding only Serbian passports remain the only ones in the Western Balkans who do not enjoy visa-free regimes with European countries.

In November 2023, the European Commission proposed starting procedures to include Kosovo citizens holding Serbian passports in visa liberalization.

The government of Kosovo expressed opposition, saying it was concerned about such a proposal without prior consultation or notification.

Official Pristina does not recognize Serbian passports issued by the Coordination Authority because it considers them issued by an illegal institution.

“The recognition of these documents undermines the integration of the Serbian community, damages our long-term efforts [for Serbian integration],” wrote Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi on Facebook on November 21.

He also said that members of the Serbian community with Kosovo passports will be able to move freely in the Schengen area.

The decision to lift or retain visas is made by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The European Parliament completes its work in April, as the institution enters a pre-election campaign for the European elections to be held in June.

It remains unclear whether there will be enough time to respect all procedures for this decision to be made during the current term of the European Parliament.