COPENHAGEN, 16 October 2012 – The proposal from six EU interior ministers to reintroduce a visa regime for countries of the Western Balkans would negatively impact the whole region, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on South East Europe Roberto Battelli said today.

Interior ministers of Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg have proposed the change that could be approved 25 October at the next EU ministers meeting.

"This would definitely be a step in the wrong direction and impact negatively on the whole region, which ultimately would not be in the interest of the EU nor of the countries that are making this move," Battelli (MP, Slovenia) said.

Battelli, who is also treasurer of the OSCE PA, made his remarks on the sidelines of the 14th Cetinje Parliamentary Forum in Montenegro. The forum took place in the framework of the NATO PA's 81st Rose-Roth Seminar, which was held from October 15 -17 under the title "Anchoring Stability in the Western Balkans: Fulfilling the Promise of Euro-Atlantic Integration".