To ensure a consistent visa regime across the Western Balkan region, the European Union Council has decided to remove visa requirements for Kosovo citizens holding Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate.

The Council confirmed this decision, stating that the regulation will take effect 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, making it applicable in all EU countries.

In April 2023, the European Commission announced that Kosovo citizens would be eligible for visa-free travel to EU countries starting January 1, 2024, for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, this exemption would not apply to holders of Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate.

Since December 2009, Serbian biometric passport holders have been exempt from visa requirements for travel to Schengen Zone countries. However, Kosovo citizens with passports from the Serbian Coordination Directorate were still required to obtain visas for EU travel.

In November 2023, the European Commission proposed lifting visa requirements for this group, aligning with the decision to allow Kosovars visa-free short-term stays from January 1, 2024. The Commission argued that the reasons for excluding holders of these Serbian passports no longer existed, advocating for all Western Balkan citizens to enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen area.

The Commission suggested amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 to eliminate visa requirements for Serbian passport holders issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate. They stated that there was no longer a valid reason to prevent these individuals from traveling visa-free within the Schengen area.

In April 2024, the European Parliament approved the decision to liberalize visas for Kosovo citizens holding Serbian Coordination Directorate passports. The Kosovo government opposed and criticized the decision, viewing it as a violation of Kosovo's territorial integrity and a potential hindrance to the integration of Kosovo Serbs.