The European Commission has engaged the United States in discussions this week, aiming to align visa procedures with current community rules and curb irregular migration through the Western Balkans. In parallel, authorities are tightening visa arrangements to mirror EU standards, reducing opportunities for migrants to exploit visa waivers along this route.
The Community Manager released the fifth update on the progress of visa liberalization with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, and extended coverage to Georgia, Moldova, and the EU-Ukraine relationship. The report underscores that noncompliance with EU visa rules can drive higher irregular arrivals and must be treated as a top priority by all Western Balkan partners.
action plan
That imperative was echoed by Community Vice President Margaritis Schinas during his briefing, where he outlined an action plan for the Western Balkans focused on immigration. He stressed that harmonizing visa policies in the region is not optional but obligatory for progress on mobility within the EU framework.
Criticism was directed at Balkan states that sign visa-free accords with third countries, warning that loopholes may enable illegal entries into the union. The message was clear: tighten the gates, close the gaps, and keep the path toward broader integration secure.
The Western Balkans route has emerged as a major focal point of migration pressure, with a reported 168% rise in entries noted by Frontex, the European border agency. EU officials emphasized that the trend demands coordinated actions across borders and tighter enforcement of existing norms.
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson highlighted that while most entries have originated through Serbia, there are noticeable deficiencies in the Balkans’ adherence to EU visa standards. Her remarks called attention to the need for comprehensive reforms and stronger monitoring across all affected countries.
organized crime
The fifth report also directs eight member states to intensify efforts against organized crime, financial fraud, corruption, and money laundering. The Commission urged authorities to pursue decisive measures that dismantle illicit networks and safeguard the integrity of border controls and asylum processes.
In addition, the document calls for concrete steps to phase out investor citizenship programs and to curb practices that bypass naturalization processes. The overarching aim is to reinforce the security framework while maintaining credible pathways for lawful residency and investment where appropriate.
The broader reform agenda remains essential. Officials stated that progress on liberalization talks should not stall, and the region should not retreat from earlier gains as new standards take hold. The fifth report was issued ahead of a scheduled summit in Tirana that will bring together the European Union and Western Balkan leaders to review milestones and align on next steps.
The EU currently maintains a visa-exemption regime with 61 countries, allowing their citizens a 90-day stay within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. This framework supports travel, business, and tourism while preserving the integrity of EU borders and visa procedures. As part of ongoing modernization, travelers from visa-exempt nations will be regulated under ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorization System, starting at the end of 2023 for border crossing in the Schengen Zone. This change introduces a pre-travel screening step that enhances security without unduly restricting legitimate visits.
Overall, the discussions reflect a careful balance between promoting mobility for legitimate travel and maintaining robust protections against irregular migration and illicit activity. The Western Balkans remain a priority area for reform, with continued dialogue and targeted policy alignment designed to support stable, orderly, and predictable movement across Europe.