The European Commission has proposed negotiating visa-free travel and a trade agreement with Kosovo even though five EU countries have not recognised its independence, according to Reuters. "The absence of an agreed position on Kosovo's status does not prevent the EU from substantial engagement with Kosovo," says a study document presented by the European Commission in Brussels and Pristina on Wednesday on Kosovo's EU future. "We propose to start a visa dialogue with Kosovo with the perspective of visa liberalisation when the conditions will be fulfilled," Pierre Mirel, the head of European Commission for Western Balkans said in Pristina. "We also propose to start preparing for a trade agreement." Mirel has urged Kosovo authorities to undertake the necessary technical reforms to make the Commission's proposals work. The citizens of neighbouring Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro will travel to EU countries without visas from January 2010. Bosnia and Albania hope to do this by the middle of next year. Kosovo's path towards joining the 27-bloc is not clear because five countries - Spain, Romania, Greece, Cyprus and Slovakia - have not recognised its statehood. Mirel said the new agenda for Kosovo was supported by the five countries. Kosovo is recognised by 62 world states but not by its former master Serbia as well as Russia and China. Kosovo's government saluted the decision on visas and trade.
