From January 1, 2024, Kosovo passport holders will be able to travel within the Schengen area for 90 days without having to apply for a visa before travel. However, based on the experience of neighboring countries, visa waiver agreements may impact an influx of tourists to the borderless Schengen area, and Kosovar experts on the matter warn the respective authorities .
According to Arian Zeka, executive director of the American Chamber in Kosovo, citizens of this Western Balkan country could finally be able to move freely, thus maintaining close family ties with the diaspora, in addition to visits for other purposes, such as tourism, education. as well as business, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
However, Zeka fears that visa liberalization could lead to an increase in migration activity, which could consequently impact the workforce, with European countries facing labor shortages in many sectors.
“This (migration) will lead to a further reduction in the workforce in Kosovo and, therefore, also a reduction in consumption in Kosovo. On the other hand, the situation may make economic consumption difficult; it is one of the pillars of the country’s economic economy”, Zeka explained.
Burim Piraj, managing director of one of the country’s leading companies, shares the same concern that his 30-year-old company could suffer from a labor shortage next year at the latest.
However, Piraj remains optimistic, noting that his company has prepared for such days by hiring more female workers over 35, as younger workers could do well in the EU, and by increasing the number of ’employees of ten percent. and manage the situation by improving working conditions.
“” Piraj appealed to his peers.
Furthermore, he advises other business owners to be punctual in their obligations, such as paying workers’ salaries on time and providing health insurance before September, so as not to suffer huge losses in January 2024.
On the other hand, the EU could see an increase in its workforce, with Kosovars among the youngest population in Europe.
According to a spokesperson for the European Commission, the body is working with partners in the Western Balkans to introduce the Youth Guarantee into the economies of these countries, which, once implemented, increases support for young people and offers quality education, training and employment opportunities.
This raises another concern for Kosovo, because visa liberalization could increase the risk of brain drain or skilled workers heading to Europe.
Seb Bytyci, a researcher at the University of Winchester, noted that the government should improve the public sector and work towards improving the quality of life in Kosovo.
“When it comes to skilled workers, especially in deficit sectors, higher wages and the provision of social benefits like health insurance can improve the situation,” he said.
A recent study from SchengenVisaInfo.com for Kosovo migration on post-visa liberalization found that 37.7 percent of respondents plan to move to the EU after visa liberalization, with the main reason for migration being the hope for a better quality of life, as reported by 78 .8 percent of those surveyed.
