European Union states agreed on Thursday to begin negotiations this year on facilitating short-stay visas for nationals of Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia, EU diplomats said, according to Reuters. "The way is now open for negotiations to start by the end of the year," one EU diplomat said after ambassadors from the 25-member bloc hammered a deal on negotiation mandates at talks in Brussels. European foreign ministers will rubber-stamp the accord at a regular meeting next Monday. Under the envisaged arrangements, the EU would be ready to exempt these countries from visa price increases, while making it easier for some groups, such as students, to travel. In return, the EU will want Balkan states to let the bloc send back illegal immigrants who have travelled through their territory, one EU official said. The bloc is keen to show citizens of the Balkan countries the benefits of closer ties with the European Union, which they hope eventually to join. Citizens from other Balkan countries Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia are already exempted from paying EU visa fees.
