EU makes travel easier for 5 Balkan states

BRUSSELS, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- The European Union signed visa agreements with five Balkan countries that should make their citizens’ European travel easier as of Jan. 1.

Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia also agreed to accept the return of illegal migrants who had entered EU countries from the five Balkan states, Serbia’s B92 radio reported.

The visa agreements provide for easier-to-get visas, including free-of-charge documents for students, scientists, business people, artists, athletes and journalists, the Serbian news agency Beta said.

For those who aren't included in a free visa group, the charge will be $48 for travelers from the five Balkan nations compared to $96 for citizens of other countries.

Under the readmission deal, Serbia is to accept in coming years the return of some 100,000 Serbian nationals, B92 said.

The European Union is to provide financial assistance for resettlement of the returnees.