Dnevni avaz: Today, at the meeting of foreign ministers of the EU countries in Brussels there will be a ceremony of opening of negotiations on start of liberalization of visa regime between the EU and BiH, which is a start of the process which should result in abolishment of visas for BiH citizens.
Meeting of experts
Osman Topčagić, director of the Directorate for European Integrations, yesterday from Brussels in telephone statement for the “Dnevni avaz” said that besides the ceremony there will also be a first meeting on expert level.
He expects that today also the proposal of the road map will be presented, i.e. list of tasks for abolishment of visas. He could not tell us whether there would a gradual liberalization until abolishment of visas. We saw that Serbia got free visas, but I do not know whether it is related with this process for BiH and the road map. I do not think it is so, because the price of visas is within the competency of the member states, and these talks are led with the European Commission. Tomorrow (i.e. today) we will know more – said Topčagić, adding that it has been announced earlier that BiH will ask for free visas.
He added that, judging by experiences of other states, negotiations do not last long, but also that it is yet “to be seen whether there is space and possibility at all to really negotiate”.
Reform Package
He points out that it is significant that BiH as well, after other countries from the region, starts negotiations, but also that after that there should be a good organization in order to fulfill conditions for abolishment of visas, because, he reminds, it is about a serious package of reforms.
Biometric passports
It is known that for abolishment of visas BiH will have to introduce biometric passports, work on better border management, minority rights, combating corruption and organized crime.
As the “Avaz” earlier announced, it is expected that, after compiling all the objections, the road map will be brought to Sarajevo, most probably, by the European Commissioner Jacques Barrot, immediately after signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement on June 16.