(1)

Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) lists the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement. The composition of the lists of third countries set out in Annexes I and II to that Regulation should be, and should remain, consistent with the criteria set out in that Regulation. References to third countries in respect of which the situation has changed as regards those criteria should be transferred from one Annex to the other, as appropriate.

(2)

The criteria which should be taken into account when determining, on the basis of a case-by-case assessment, the third countries whose nationals are subject to, or exempt from, the visa requirement are laid down in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. Those criteria include illegal immigration, public policy and security, economic benefit, in particular in terms of tourism and foreign trade, and the Union’s external relations with the relevant third countries, including, in particular, considerations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the implications of regional coherence and reciprocity.

(3)

Kosovo has met the requirements of its roadmap towards a visa-free regime. On the basis of an assessment of a variety of criteria as listed in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, it is appropriate to exempt holders of passports issued by Kosovo from the visa requirement when travelling to the territory of the Member States. The exemption from the visa requirement will ensure that the whole Western Balkan region is subject to the same visa regime.

(4)

Kosovo should thus be transferred from Part 2 of Annex I to Part 4 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. The exemption from the visa requirement should apply only to holders of biometric passports issued by Kosovo in line with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). That exemption should not apply until the date from which the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), established by Regulation (EU) 2018/1240 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), starts operations or until 1 January 2024, whichever date comes first.

(5)

Without prejudice to the position of Member States on the status of Kosovo, in the period prior to the date on which the exemption from the visa requirement effectively applies, it is important that readmission agreements or arrangements, as applicable, be concluded with the Member States that do not yet have such an agreement or arrangement. Once concluded, Kosovo is to fully implement those agreements or arrangements while respecting the principle of non-refoulement enshrined in the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951, as amended by the New York Protocol of 31 January 1967.

(6)

Kosovo has made significant progress in all blocks of Chapter II of its roadmap towards a visa-free regime. To ensure that migration is managed well and to ensure a secure environment, Kosovo should seek to further align its visa policy with that of the Union.

(7)

The exemption from the visa requirement is dependent upon the continued implementation of the requirements of the roadmap towards a visa-free regime with Kosovo. The Commission is to actively monitor the implementation of those requirements and the alignment of visa policy through the suspension mechanism under Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. The Union can suspend the exemption from the visa requirement in accordance with that mechanism, provided that the conditions set out therein are met.

(8)

This Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC (4); Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Regulation and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

(9)

As regards Iceland and Norway, this Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the latters’ association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (5), which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Council Decision 1999/437/EC (6).

(10)

As regards Switzerland, this Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (7), which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2008/146/EC (8).

(11)

As regards Liechtenstein, this Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis (9), which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2011/350/EU (10).

(12)

As regards Cyprus, and Bulgaria and Romania, this Regulation constitutes an act building upon, or otherwise relating to, the Schengen acquis within, respectively, the meaning of Article 3(1) of the 2003 Act of Accession and of Article 4(1) of the 2005 Act of Accession,