EU Council, EP agree on visa-free travel for Kosovars

The agreed text needs to be approved by the Council and the European Parliament before going through the formal adoption procedure, the Council said in a press release on Wednesday.

The new rules would allow Kosovo passport holders to travel to the EU without a visa for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period. The exemption from the visa requirement would apply from the start date for the operation of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and no later than 1 January 2024.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kosovo's president Vjosa Osmani, prime minister Albin Kurti and parliament president Gljauk Konjufca signed the country's application to become a member of the European Union.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008.