Macedonia upbeat on EU visa talks

The Schengen accord removed many passport checks within the EU

Macedonia says it is confident that its citizens will enjoy visa-free travel to EU countries by next January.

Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki gave the upbeat assessment after EU foreign ministers discussed visa liberalisation on Monday.

Serbia says it is also working to meet the EU conditions so that it can benefit from visa-free travel in 2010.

The European Commission aims to make fresh recommendations next month on easing visa requirements.

The European Council - the assembly of EU leaders - will make the final decision, only after the 27 EU governments and European Parliament have considered the commission proposals.

"Visa liberalisation is a process that we expect to end successfully by the end of this year," said Mr Milososki, quoted by the Macedonian Makfax news website.

Earlier this month the EU Commissioner for Justice, Jacques Barrot, said five Western Balkan nations were on track for visa liberalisation.

He said Macedonia had shown "good progress" towards meeting the EU conditions, Serbia and Montenegro had shown "progress", while Bosnia-Hercegovina and Albania had shown "some progress" but still had to improve in some areas.

All five countries are keen to join the EU, but their membership talks are at different stages. A continuing obstacle for Macedonia is the dispute with neighbouring Greece over its name - and internationally it is still widely described as "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".

The commission has given the countries "roadmaps", requiring them to improve document security, curb illegal migration, develop police co-operation with the EU and boost efforts to tackle crime and corruption.