As of 1 January year 2008, Macedonian citizens will be able to obtain visas for the countries from the Schengen zone easier and quicker. Whether or not Macedonian citizens will be able to travel to the EU without visas anytime soon will depend solely on Macedonia's efforts to satisfy the European Union's security requirements.

This is the message that EU Commissioner for Justice and Security Franco Frattini conveyed to Macedonia yesterday at the ceremony for the signing of the agreements on readmission and facilitation of the visa regime with the Balkan countries, which was held in Brussels.

"Facilitation of the visa regime will enter into force at the same time for all Balkan countries. But liberalization of the visa regime will depend on the assessment that will be made for each country separately. The countries will be evaluated based on the progress in the securing of the borders, the safety of the passports, and the fight against organized crime and smuggling," Frattini said.