Spain recognizes the Kosovo passport after the entry into force, on January 1, of the exemption from visa requirements for Kosovo citizens to access the Schengen area and the European Union (EU), a source from the Ministry has confirmed to EFE. of Foreign Affairs.
This recognition, however, “does not change the position of non-recognition of Kosovo” by Spain, the source specified.
Along with Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania, Spain is one of the five EU members that does not recognize the sovereignty of Kosovo.
Since January 1, Kosovars can travel visa-free to the Schengen area and the European Union (EU), an aspiration for which they have worked since 2008, when the Parliament of Pristina unilaterally declared the independence of the former Serbian province. .
Kosovo is the last country in the Western Balkans to benefit from visa exemption for tourist stays in countries adhering to the Schengen Treaty of free movement.
This opens up a space of 4.3 million square kilometers and 423 million citizens from 27 European countries (23 members of the European Union and 4 non-EU members).
The independence of Kosovo, with a population of 1.8 million people, has been recognized by more than 100 countries, including the United States, but not Russia or China.
The European Union (EU) celebrated this Sunday the decisions of Kosovo and Serbia to formally recognize the license plates of their respective vehicles.
“This decision is a positive step in the implementation of the agreement on the path to normalization, as well as the previous commitments of the Dialogue related to freedom of movement,” said the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs. Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, in a statement.
Kosovo annulled this Friday the need for vehicles with Serbian license plates entering its territory to partially cover them with a sticker, after Serbia allowed vehicles with Kosovo identification to circulate freely on its roads since the beginning of this year.
