In a report adopted on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs call on the Government of Kosovo and the representatives of Kosovo Serbs to commit to genuine dialogue.
MEPs commended Kosovo for its progress in implementing European-related reforms and called on the EU to prepare without further delay an opinion on the merits of the country’s application for EU membership.
In a report adopted on Wednesday, MEPs on Foreign Affairs Committee praise Kosovo’s achievements in its fight against corruption and organised crime and management of migration and welcome Kosovo’s ongoing alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy, in particular its strong condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The pace of the accession process depends on Kosovo’s normalisation of relations with Serbia
The report welcome the declarations of support for Kosovo’s application for EU membership by governmental representatives from ten EU countries as well as the long-awaited agreement on granting visa liberalisation to the citizens of Kosovo.
Members urge the member states that have not yet recognised Kosovo as a sovereign state, notably Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania, and Greece, to do so without further delay. The independence of the Republic of Kosovo is irreversible, say MEPs, adding that the pace of the accession process will depend on progress on the rule of law and fundamental rights and the normalisation of relations with Serbia.
MEPs regret the fact that the initiatives to involve the Serb community in Kosovo’s political, social and economic structures remain very limited and call on the Government of Kosovo and the representatives of Kosovo Serbs to commit to genuine dialogue in order to increase mutual trust.
Space for improvement in judiciary
MEPs express concern about Kosovo’s judiciary, which continues to be inefficient and vulnerable to undue interference and encourage the Kosovar authorities to implement existing instruments more effectively to safeguard the independence, efficiency and integrity of the justice system.
They also call on the government to enhance its cooperation with civil society on decision-making, as well as to take appropriate measures to prevent journalists and activists from being penalised for speaking up on issues of public interest.
“We are happy to confirm that the long-overdue visa liberalisation will be granted as of 1 January 2024. In key moments, Kosovo has proven to be a reliable partner. There has been a significant progress in the fight against corruption, but more efforts are needed. I do hope that the Ohrid Agreement and the implementation of all past agreements in the Serbia-Kosovo Dialogue will reap off benefits for Kosovo and contribute to the normalisation of relations with Serbia,” said rapporteur Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (Greens, Germany).
The report was adopted by 44 votes for, 8 against and 3 abstentions.
The report will now be submitted to a vote in the European Parliament as a whole at the plenary session in May.
