Latest News
EU Threat to Visa Regime Worries Macedonia
In a bid to head off moves to reassess the visa-free regime, Macedonia says the number of asylum seekers in the EU from the Balkans is falling.
Serbia Tops Germany's Asylum Seekers List
The highest number of people who sought asylum in Germany in 2012 came from Serbia, recent German foreign ministry data show.
EU Urges Balkan Countries to Stop Asylum Wave
The EU has warned Balkan countries that if they don’t lower the number of asylum seekers, visas may have to be re-introduced.
Brussels to Keep Visas Free in Balkans
Top EU official says current regime will stay in force in the Balkans despite calls from some European politicians it to be suspended.
Albania Risks Visa-Free Regime with VIP Citizenship
A plan by Prime Minister Sali Berisha to give Albanian citizenship to foreigners who invest €100,000 in the country could put the state's visa-free regime with the EU at risk.
EU Visa Talks With Kosovo May Start January
Dialogue between the European Commission and Kosovo on visa liberalisation may start by the beginning of 2012, a European diplomat told Balkan Insight.
UK Serbs Lobby British MPs for End to Visas
A group representing young Serbian professionals in the UK is lobbying the British parliament for an end to visa restrictions on Serbs wanting to travel to Britain.
Albania Asylum Seekers Repatriated from Belgium
Nine Albanian migrants who applied for asylum in Belgium in the last two months have been returned to Tirana’s Mother Teresa International Airport today.
Belgium Sees Spike in Asylum Seekers From Albania
Belgian authorities have seen an exponential growth of Albanian asylum seekers in the last two months, warning Tirana that criminal networks might behind the sudden surge.
Brussels Subjects Balkan Visa Deal to Scrutiny
EU ministers on Wednesday in Brussels are to count the latest figures on asylum claims from the Western Balkans, and decide how to curb a trend that has accelerated since visas were scrapped.
Albania Sees Surge in Demand for Biometric Passports
Millions of Albanians have applied for the latest “biometric” passport just months after the country was granted visa free travel across the European Union.
EU Proposes Mechanism to Suspend Visa-Free Regime
The European Commission proposed on Monday a mechanism that would allow the EU to suspend the visa-free regime for certain states under "exceptional" circumstances.
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Serbia to Curb Exodus of Asylum-Seekers
Belgrade pledges to stem outward flow of Roma and ethnic Albanians, as Belgium threatens to call for Serbia's exclusion from visa-free regime with Europe.
Poverty Prevents Macedonians from Travelling
A lack of cash is the main reason many Macedonians haven't taken advantage of visa-free travel to the EU over the past year, a local survey shows.
Serbia Tops Global Ranking of Asylum Seekers
Serbia was the top country of origin for asylum seekers in 2010, sending more applicants to the industrialized world than Afghanistan and Iraq.
Background
Focus on Albania
Albania Could Pay Price for Visa-Free Travel
While travel agents gear up to cash in on Albanians traveling westwards, experts say the outflow of currency may harm the struggling local economy.
Albania: New Year's New Visa Regime
Focus on Kosovo
Kosovo Ready for Visa-Free Regime, Pristina Officials Say
Kosovo’s government stresses that it has fulfilled the criteria set by the European Commission on visa liberalisation, as it gears up for an expected EC mission in December.
Kosovo's Visa Liberalisation On Hold
