Hundreds of Albanians and Bosnians on December, 15 headed with enthusiasm towards western Europe Wednesday, on the first day of authorized visa-free travel to the Schengen area.
In November, EU countries approved a visa-free regime for Bosnian and Albanian nationals and the measure went into force overnight.
In the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, check-in was underway smoothly for owners of biometric passports who wanted to travel to Munich, Vienna or Budapest, the first flights allowed on Wednesday.
"Finally freedom!" exulted clerk Almir Demirovic, an administrative clerk on his way to Berlin for a business conference.
Since the EU decision in November, more than 90,000 Bosnian nationals have applied for a biometric passport, official figures showed. The number has tripled compared with the earlier average monthly number of applications, a spokeswoman for the national agency for identity documents, Amila Opardija, said.
In both Albania and Bosnia the lifting of visas was seen as "historic." However, EU countries have established a tight monitoring system and vowed to suspend the privilege in the event of major abuses.
Albanian and Bosnian authorities launched campaigns to explain to their nationals the limits of new regulations.
In Bosnia, state radio has repeatedly warned citizens that the lifting of visas is for tourist travel only and cannot be used to seek permanent residence or work in the Schengen area.
"Citizens should know that a biometric passport allows them to remain (in a Schengen zone country) maximum 90 days within a six-month period," Bosnian Security Minister Sadik Ahmetovic said.
Read more on: eubusiness.com
