EU to asses visa-free travel for Bosnia by mid-April

(SARAJEVO) - The European Commission is to assess whether to recommend visa-free travel for Bosnians by mid-April, visiting EU commissioner for enlargement Stefan Fuele said here Thursday.

"It is my intention together with my colleagues to present the assessment (for visa-free travel) by mid-April," Fuele told journalists after meeting Bosnian Prime Minister Nikola Spiric.

"We are now at the middle of what I would call internal consultations to be followed with the consultation with the (EU) member states," he said.

Based on the assessment, the EU's executive arm would prepare a recommendation to be forwarded to the European Council and the European Parliament for further proceedings, he said.

Spiric said Bosnia met all conditions for visa liberalisation and he expected a "positive decision for the citizens of Bosnia-Hercegovina."

In November 2009 the EU countries agreed to extend visa-free travel to Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro but kept visa requirements in place for citizens from Albania and Bosnia.

Fuele is travelling around the Balkans ahead of the EU-Balkans summit due to be held in Slovenia this weekend. On Friday the commissioner will visit Kosovo and Albania.