(ANSA) - BRUSSELS - The Committee for Civil Liberties of the European Parliament reaffirmed its support for visa-free travel of the citizens of Kosovo. MEPs, who already supported the proposal in September 2018, agreed to start talks with the European Council on the proposal of a visa waiver for Kosovo by 49 votes in favour against 13. The mandate will have to be confirmed at the European Parliament plenary session in October. However, the final decision is still in the hands of the Member States that so far have been reluctant to allow visa-free travel to the citizens of Kosovo, in spite of European Commission positive recommendation.

The decision is blocked by the five Member States that do not recognise Kosovo (Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Slovakia), as well as France and the Netherlands.

Kosovo remains the only country in the Western Balkans whose citizens require visas to travel to Schengen Area.(ANSA).