European Commission to lift visa requirements for Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina
The European Commission was expected to announce on May 27 2010 its proposal to lift visa requirements for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgarian media said, citing AFP.
The wire service quoted what it described as a reliable source, Dnevnik said.
"We will propose that Albania and Bosnia be freed of the visa regime under certain conditions" an unnamed source said. Reportedly Tirana and Sarajevo will have to comply with three conditions, but these were not disclosed.
Last year, the European Union lifted Schengen visa requirements for the citizens of Serbia, FYROM and Montenegro.
The proposal was partly aimed at thwarting another surge of regional nationalism and fending off anti European resentment among its populations as a result of the uncertainty surrounding any future EU accession, reports said.
As of December 19 2009, nationals of Serbia, FYROM and Montenegro, who possess biometric passports, have enjoyed visa-free travel for periods of up to three months in the borderless Schengen area. But although Serbians and FYROM citizens for instance are allowed to travel freely to Bulgaria and elsewhere in the Union, visa requirements remained in place for citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina until both countries have met the criteria set by Brussels.