Visa-free Travel: Kosovo Tries to Catch Up with the Rest of Europe

Kosovo Buckles down to Become Visa-Free (Turkish Weekly)

Kosovo is a newly-independent nation that is still putting down roots in the international system.

"Kosovo should address challenges in the border control sector, inter-state organized crime, repatriation and reaching technical and technological standards in the administrative system. But also improving of the political image and [improving] the economic situation of the country," Agron Bajrami, Kosovo columnist, editor-in-chief of daily Koha Ditore told SETimes.

"These are probably the biggest challenges because these are real and deep problems which have not been addressed -- they are also the stain that burdens Kosovo's name in almost every quarter of the world. [Dealing with these issues] will go beyond the time frames and political frames of visa liberalization."

The two "man on the street" quotes at the end of the article are also very interesting.

Kosovo: Biometric Passports & Visa-Free Travel

One Hurdle Down, Many More to Go (Turkish Weekly)

Kosovo started to deliver its biometric passports on Monday (October 31st), fulfilling one of the more important criteria for visa liberialisation with the EU. Prime Minister Hashim Thaci hailed it as a "big step".

"It is a document that equalises the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo with those of the EU," Thaci said at a ceremony during which the first biometric passports were handed over. He dubbed the occasion "Day of European Kosovo".

The West recognized Kosovo's independence in February, 2008.

The above linked article does a good job of outlining just what it takes for a new state to get up to speed with established states. Biometric ID management and developing the ability to share information effectively within bi-lateral and multilateral agreements are very important to the process.