Kosovo authorities announced on Wednesday that they had signed off on a formal application for EU candidate status, a time-consuming process further complicated by strained relations between Pristina and Belgrade, AFP reported. On the same day, the European Parliament and the Council of Member States reached an agreement to exempt Kosovars wishing to travel to the EU for a short period from visa requirements, both institutions announced on Wednesday.

This agreement, which has not yet been formally ratified, provides that by January 1, 2024 at the latest, holders of passports issued by Kosovo will be exempted from visa requirements for stays in the EU of no more than 90 days. Kosovo is the only one of the six countries of the Western Balkans that does not enjoy a similar EU visa-free regime.

Kosovo officially applies for EU membership

Kosovo’s top politicians signed a document requesting membership of the European Union in Pristina earlier on Wednesday in a ceremony broadcast live by Kosovo media, after Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced on Tuesday that he would apply for EU membership this week, a process that is expected to take several years, if not decades, and which depends on the normalization of its relations with Serbia.

The document was signed by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President of the Pristina Parliament Glauk Konyufca, and will be sent to the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU on Thursday.

“This is a historic moment for our country, which aims to open a new page for our state and our society,” said Albin Kurti.

Albanian-dominated Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with Western backing after a 1998-1999 war in which NATO intervened to protect the territory.

Kosovo is not a member of the UN, and five EU states – Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus – refuse to recognize Kosovo’s statehood.

On the other hand, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic on Wednesday called Kosovo’s request for EU candidate status a political marketing move by Pristina, reminding that the approval of this request requires the consensus of EU member states, Tanjug agency reports. Agerpres.

“A month ago, I said that I had information that Prishtina would apply for EU membership. We consider such a step doubly bad – firstly, because it is clear that there is no unity of position regarding the status of Kosovo-Metohija and five countries do not recognize Kosovo-Metohija, and also because so far no one has received the status of a candidate without first resolving the issues his status, and, secondly, because in the conditions when Pristina completely ignores all agreements, no one can take this into account,” explained the head of Serbian diplomacy