The EC demands from Kosovo and Serbia immediate steps for the implementation of the Ohrid agreement

2024-10-30 18:30:17, Kosova & Bota CNA

The EC demands from Kosovo and Serbia immediate steps for the implementation of

In the European Commission's annual report on the bloc's expansion process, Kosovo and Serbia are asked to implement the agreement on the normalization of relations that was reached last year, as well as all previous agreements, without further delays or preconditions.

" Kosovo is expected to start the process leading to the establishment of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority based on the European proposal presented on October 21, 2023. Meanwhile, Serbia is expected to fulfill its obligations from the agreement simultaneously by starting the process of recognizing the documents of of Kosovo, its symbols and institutions ", the report states.

The report, an annual measure that the European Union makes of the developments of countries aiming for integration, criticizes what it says are the uncoordinated actions of the Kosovo government in the north, assessing that they have damaged its relations with the Serbian community.

The report states that the situation in the north of Kosovo during the reporting period was characterized by high tensions.

" Kosovo has repeatedly carried out actions contrary to its obligations arising from the dialogue, including police operations against offices and services supported by Serbia, the regulation of the Central Bank on cash prohibiting the use of any currency other than the euro, and the closing of the offices of the Post of Serbia" , says the report.

Kosovo and Serbia should engage in a constructive way for the opening of the main bridge over the Iber in Mitrovica for the movement of cars, the report states, while it is emphasized that the position of the European Union remains the same.

" Any decision or action for its opening must be taken and coordinated within the dialogue and together with the security partners ", the report states.

The report states that the European Union's punitive measures against Kosovo have remained in force, although it is noted that the bloc's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has proposed their removal.

Meanwhile, in the part about Serbia, the report emphasizes the attack by a group of armed Serbs against the Kosovo police on September 24 of last year as the most serious escalation of the situation in the north, underlining that " the process of normalization of relations continues to be affected by the steps insufficient of Serbia to ensure responsibility for it ".

The progress report notes that the normalization of relations remains an essential condition on the European path of both countries and that they risk losing important opportunities in the absence of progress.

Kosovo is the last in the integration processes and the only one of the countries of the Western Balkan region that does not have the status of a candidate country, although it submitted the request in December 2022. The European Commission expresses its readiness to prepare an opinion on this request as soon as this is requested by the Council of the EU.

The report recognizes Kosovo's progress in " the fight against organized crime, the improvement of the business environment as well as the liberalization of visas" and calls for increased efforts "to strengthen the rule of law, public administration and to protect freedom of expression ".

" The government should work to create cross-party political support to more effectively pursue reforms related to the European Union ," the report states.

The head of the European Union's foreign policy, Josep Borell, said in a press conference that the Russian aggression in Ukraine has turned the acceleration and expansion of the bloc into a strategic priority. He emphasized that the alignment of countries aiming for integration with the policies of the bloc is essential.

" You simply cannot maintain close ties with Russia or try to continue business as usual and expect to join the European Union. It's one or the other ," he said.

Serbia is the only candidate country for membership in the European Union that has refused to join the Western sanctions against Moscow due to its aggression in Ukraine./ VOA