BELGRADE, Serbia 

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Tuesday slammed the European Union (EU) decision to liberalize visa requirements for Kosovo Serbs in the Schengen area, calling it "unfair, harmful and discouraging."

"We consider this unfair, harmful, and also discouraging. The Republic of Kosovo has strengthened its passport more than ever, but we do not have many opportunities to influence Brussels' decisions,” Kurti said in response to a question from the press following an event in the capital Pristina.

The Council of the European Union adopted a regulation Monday removing a visa requirement for holders of Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate.

The regulation takes effect after it is published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Ethnic Serbs with passports issued by Serbia's Directorate for Kosovo can now cross the external borders of EU member states without a visa.

About 18,000 Serbian residents of Kosovo who hold these passports can travel visa-free to the European Union.

The move ensures that all Western Balkan residents are subject to the same visa regime.

Serbian citizens with biometric passports have been exempted from visa requirements since 2009. However, the regime did not apply to passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate for Kosovo in Belgrade. The European Commission proposed the change in 2023.

Meanwhile, Kosovo citizens have been able to travel visa-free through the passport-free Schengen zone since January 2024, but this does not apply to those whose passports are issued by Serbia's directorate for Kosovo.