BELGRADE: The International Crisis Group has proposed liberalisation of the restrictive visa regime by the EU for some Balkans countries. “The present visa regime with the countries of Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia-Montenegro including Kosovo) is fostering resentment, inhibiting progress on trade, business, education and more open civil societies, and as a result contributing negatively to regional stability,” says the group, a non-governmental organisation working in the area of conflict prevention and resolution.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) has suggested selective liberalisation for certain identified groups and visa facilitation for all applicants — involving a simplified, speedier and less painful process.” The first to feel the eased regime should be students, journalists and business people, the group says in its latest analysis of the situation in the Balkans.

The response from vice-president of the European Commission Franco Frattini was not very encouraging. “Abolishing the visa regime currently is not an option,” he said in Brussels. The European Commission is the executive arm of the European Union (EU). Frattini said the issue will be on the EU agenda once the Western Balkans countries enter the substantial phase of their EU membership process in the next decade.

The ICG suggestion was widely publicised by Serbian media, because it raised one of the most painful issues the nation has faced in more than a decade and a half. Travel was easy from former Yugoslavia since the 60s. Many still remember the ‘red passport’ that could take you anywhere in Europe. Visas were needed only for Australia, Canada, the United States and South Africa. Millions from former Yugoslavia used the passports to migrate, or for visits abroad. But the situation changed dramatically with the outbreak of the wars in the early 90s. —Dawn/IPS News Service