Criticism after the EC Report on Kosovo/ Some progress has not been highlighted

2023-11-09 09:32:33, Kosova & Bota CNA

Criticism after the EC Report on Kosovo/ Some progress has not been highlighted

Prime Minister Kurti receives the President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, during her visit on October 30 in Pristina

The 2023 Progress Report of the European Commission, EC for Kosovo emphasized the dialogue with Serbia. After the publication of the Progress Report, there were reactions in Kosovo. The Deputy Prime Minister in the government of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, who is also the chief negotiator of Kosovo in the dialogue with Serbia, said that, "a big boost in the fulfillment of reforms, would be the removal of the punitive measures imposed by the European bloc on Kosovo." Internal reforms in the rule of law, good governance, good economic and social progress, visa liberalization and commitment to the European Union confirm that we are taking the right steps on the way to the European future. The removal of punitive measures from the EU would return the motivation and accelerate the reforms even more", said Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi.

According to him, "Kosovo has proven to be an ally of the EU, aligning its foreign policy, especially with the imposition of sanctions against Russia and Belarus".

Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi was critical because in the European Commission Report, "some of the progress that Kosovo has made are not highlighted". , justice and the rule of law, the fight against corruption and public administration, which should have been emphasized and appreciated more in this report", Bislimi said, adding that these issues were recommended in last year's Progress report.

Szunyog: The fulfillment of three conditions is expected

The head of the EU office in Kosovo, Ambassador Tomas Szunyog, who submitted the report to the government of Kosovo, said that the EU expects the three conditions presented in the EU statement on June 3 to be fulfilled, as a step towards the lifting of punitive measures. . "Expansion of the situation in the north, the holding of early elections in this part of Kosovo inhabited by a majority of Serbs and engagement in dialogue. And the last condition now includes the establishment of the Association". Kosovo applied for membership in the EU last year. , but it is the only country in the Balkan region that still does not have the status of a candidate country.

Head of the EU office in Kosovo, Ambassador Tomas Szunyog and Prime Minister Kurti

Progress Report 2023 for Kosovo

The European Commission's Progress Report in the section on Kosovo states that "Kosovo has made limited progress, although it is appreciated in many areas, such as internal reforms in the rule of law, good economic and social progress and visa liberalization." In the report, special emphasis is placed on the tense situation in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by a majority of Serbs, as well as relations with Serbia and the dialogue mediated by the European Union. The report expresses regret that Kosovo and Serbia have not begun to fulfill their obligations arising from the dialogue. Kosovo is invited to establish the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority, based on the latest proposal for the draft status for the Association, which was presented to the parties on October 21 by Western diplomats.

KFOR after the unrest in the north

"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 that was presented to the parties on October 21, 2023. Serbia is requested to support this process and at the same time start fulfilling its obligations its key points from the Agreement towards the normalization of relations".

The report also mentions the removal of Serbs from Kosovo's institutions in November last year and their boycott of the April local elections. These actions are qualified as "violations of Serbia's obligations arising from the dialogue and represent a step back by Serbia in fulfilling the obligations taken from the first agreement on the principles for the normalization of relations. Earlier in the year, the European Union imposed punitive measures against Kosovo due to tensions in the north./ DW