Higher Visa Fees � Move Towards Isolation of Western Balkans

26 April 2006

The European Movement in Serbia, in cooperation with other European Movements in the Western Balkans and the International European Movement, protested the announced rise in visa fees for the citizens of the Western Balkans, to be decided at the April 27 meeting of the European Council for Justice and Internal Affairs, in Luxemburg.

"The existing visa regime makes the progress towards European integrations more difficult and prevents communication, in the wider sense of the word, while the announced price hike from 35 to 60 EUR visa fee shall present another obstacle, unsurmountable for many citizens of the countries of Western Balkans�, says the European Movement.

�The possible rise of visa fees will send a negative message to all citizens in the region. Insted of increased freedom of movement between the region and the EU, this will prove another step towards isolation�, added the organization in a public statement.

The public release appeals to the ministers of justice and internal affairs of the EU to find a way to liberalize the visa regime and to avoid creating even more serious obstacles to cooperation between the region and the European Union.