November 2008 assessments
Progress assessments by the European Commission

Progress assessments by the European Commission

The European Commission assessed the progress of all five Western Balkan countries in meeting the visa roadmap requirements first on 18 November 2008 and then on 18 May 2009. (All assessments are available on this website further down.)

The assessments in November 2008 were based on "readiness reports" that the Western Balkan countries had to submit by September 2008. According to the assessments, the countries fell into three groups. Macedonia was the most advanced; Serbia and Montenegro made up the second group; Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina made up the third.

The second set of assessments in May 2009 was based on updates and additional information submitted by the Western Balkan governments, but also field missions conducted by EU national experts between January and March 2009. There were 15 such missions, three to each Western Balkan country, verifying and scrutinising on the ground the situation with regard to document security, border control, migration management and the fight against organised crime, corruption and illegal migration. Roadmap requirements related to human rights issued were discussed in seminars in Brussels, which were another source of information for the Commission.

The May 2009 assessments concluded that Macedonia met the conditions for visa-free travel, that Montenegro and Serbia met most of the conditions, but that Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania did not yet meet all the conditions for visa free travel.

Based on the May 2009 assessments, the Commission proposed visa-free travel to Macedonia on 15 July 2009, and to Montenegro and Serbia on condition that the two countries meet a few outstanding benchmark before the Council's vote on 30 November 2009. Both countries did so, as the Commission certified on 19 November 2009. The visa barrier was lifted for Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, with their citizens being able to travel to the EU without a visa from 19 December 2009.

For Albania and Bosnia, which had made less progress, the visa liberalisation process continued. On 15 July, the same day when the Commission presented its legislative proposal, the Commission asked the governments of Albania and Bosnia by letter to make progress in specific areas that would help them achieve the related benchmarks, and to report on progress by 1 October 2009, with updates in mid-November 2009. Based on the government reports, the Commission drafted new assessments dated 27 November 2009.

In December 2009 and February 2010, the Commission organised national expert missions to Albania and Bosnia, which, alongside government reports, provided input for new assessments that the Commission issued on 19 April 2010. According to these assessments, both countries have made substantial progress with only a few benchmarks remaining open. It is likely that the Commission will propose visa-free travel for Bosnia and Albania if they two countries meet the open benchmarks in the coming weeks. The Commission proposal is expected  around end-May/early June.

 

Assessments by the European Commission of Albania and Bosnia (19 April 2010)

Assessments by the European Commission of Albania and Bosnia (27 November 2009)

Assessment by the European Commission on the fulfilment of the open benchmarks by Montenegro and Serbia (19 November 2009)

Assessments by the European Commission (18 May 2009)

Assessments by the European Commission (24 November 2008)

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