Statement
of the International Commission on the Balkans

Re: Commissioner Frattini’s proposal of a road map for more freedom of movement for the Western Balkans

Mr. Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the EC and Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security made recently a proposal to the Council of Ministers to entrust the Commission with negotiations with the Western Balkan countries aiming at facilitation of more freedom of movement for young people and entrepreneurs. The International Commission on the Balkans highly welcomes this proposal, which is fully in line with our suggestion of “free visas, educational opportunities and freedom of movement for the younger generation, especially students, as well as the business community in the countries of the Western Balkans.”

As we stated in Rome, we expect Europe to live up to its promises.  Franco Frattini’s initiative for visa facilitation is a crucial step towards such a policy.