Even though the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted a regulation on amendments last night that applies to nationals of third countries, as well as the Western Balkan countries, in connection with EU border crossings, European Parliamentarian and former rapporteur of the European Parliament for Visa Liberalization Tanja Fajon said to Anadolu Agency (AA) that this is in no way an introduction to closing the EU borders for citizens of the Western Balkans.

She added that she sincerely hopes that this mechanism, which primarily applies to citizens of third countries, and not only citizens of Western Balkan countries who enjoy a visa-free regime, will not be activated.

‘’Despite the high number of asylum seekers from the Western Balkans, the reintroduction of visas would be a bad signal and would have long-term political consequences. I think that the EU should do a revision of political asylum, on the one hand, and on the other hand I appeal to the authorities in Western Balkan countries to continue the information campaign that says that it is practically impossible to get asylum in EU states and to exploit the visa liberalization’’, said Fajon.

(Source: Dnevni Avaz)