Macedonian Center for
International Cooperation (MCIC) Nikola Papunov 66
1060 Skopje, Macedonia
W: www.mcms.org.mk.
E:
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Centre for Civic Education (CCE) Njegoseva 36/I
81 000 Podgorica, Montenegro
T/F: + 382 81665112
W: www.cgo.cg.yu
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European Movement - Albania Rr. Brigada VIII, Godina 1/3, Ap.8, 1001
Tiran~AŤ, Albania
T/F: +355 42253184
W: www.em-al.org
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The Citizens~Ac???c Pact for SEE Maksima Gorkog 5/II/14
21000 Novi Sad / Serbia
T: +381 21425791
W: www.citizenspact.org.yu
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Monday, 09 June 2008 |
Through the setting up of a
hotline in each country, the project aims at assessing the implementation
of the visa facilitation.
Furthermore, the project~Ac???cs objective is
to advocate a visa free regime for all the countries in the Balkans.
We hope to show to the relevant EU institutions that even if visa facilitation
is a step forward, it is far from people~Ac???cs expectations. If the European
Commission wants to see concrete results of the much-promoted concept
of ~Ac??Apeople-to-people contacts~Ac??? it should install the necessary
basis for this: Visa facilitation is not enough.
The EU visa facilitation scheme
is a new type of instrument and hopefully the last step towards citizens
of the Western Balkan countries becoming part of the visa free travel
regime. Indeed, in its ~Ac??AEnlargement strategy and Main Challenges 2007-2008~Ac???,
the Commission stated that ~Ac??Athe facilitation agreements are an important
step towards full liberalisation of the visa regime~Ac???. Even if it is
not the only condition, the way the visa facilitation agreements are
implemented will have a direct impact on the evolution of the negotiations
for a visa free regime. Other requirements such as border management,
introduction of biometric passports, fight against organised criminal
etc. have also to be met by the governments of the concerned countries
in order to accede the European free travel zone.
The main part
of this project is the setting up of a hotline where people could call
either to share their experience (positive or negative) on the implementation
of visa facilitation or to ask for help concerning their rights under
the new agreements.
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