EU draft conclusions on enlargement: Association is required of Kosovo..., reforms, progress in dialogue...

The European Union's General Affairs Council adopts conclusions on Tuesday regarding the European bloc's enlargement process, while in the section on Kosovo, the country is called on to accelerate its progress on the path towards reforms.

Among other demands is the implementation of agreements reached with Serbia, within the framework of the process of normalizing relations, including the need to form the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.

Kosovo is the only one in the Western Balkans that does not enjoy the status of a candidate country for membership, although it applied in December 2022.

The report with draft conclusions provided to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty mentions that the need for reform is most evident in strengthening public administration and the rule of law, including consolidating the judicial system, fighting corruption, and protecting fundamental freedoms, especially freedom of expression, a sector in which no progress has been made.

Progress is said to have been made in the fight against organized crime.

Kosovo is praised for organizing general elections in February and then local elections later in the year, considering the participation of all communities in them.

In this regard, the draft conclusions mention that, taking into account the orderly transfer of power in the four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of the country, the Council reiterates and expects the lifting of all remaining punitive measures.

The European Union imposed punitive measures against Kosovo in the summer of 2023, as a result of tensions in the Serb-majority north.

The European bloc has begun phasing them out, but officials in Kosovo insist that continuing them is an unfair decision, since all requirements for their removal have already been met.

Among them, the situation in the north has been de-escalated, the police presence near municipal facilities in the north has been reduced, and the peaceful transfer of power in Serb-majority municipalities has been achieved.

Rikard Jozwiak, Europe editor of Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) in Prague, has learned from his sources that the issue of not removing all measures against Kosovo was discussed in Brussels last week and that France and Italy are supporters of the idea of ​​removing only 50 percent of them.

But it seems that there will be no progress in this direction before the early parliamentary elections on December 28 in Kosovo.

According to an analysis by the Institute for Advanced Studies – GAP, EU measures have cost Kosovo around 613.4 million euros in suspended or indefinitely postponed projects. Due to missed deadlines, 7.1 million euros have been lost entirely.

In the report, the EU mentions that the enlargement process has geostrategic importance and is a process that contributes to European peace, security and stability in the 21st century.

The Council calls on all partners to seize this opportunity and this momentum to take all necessary steps to accelerate progress on the path towards the EU.

In addition to the necessary preparations by candidate countries, the report also mentions the need for preparations by the bloc itself to accommodate new members.

Regarding the Balkan countries, the importance of good neighborly relations and regional cooperation is mentioned.

"The Council strongly encourages partners to resolve all bilateral disagreements and issues dating back to the past, in line with international law," the report states, among other things.

Expectations for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue

In the report with draft conclusions, the Council mentions full support for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which is mediated by the European Union.

It mentions that both sides could lose major opportunities in the absence of progress in normalization.

Kosovo and Serbia have been negotiating in Brussels since 2011, have reached several agreements, but not all of them have been implemented.

"Progress on their respective European paths depends on efforts to fully implement all commitments arising from the 2023 Normalization Agreement and all other agreements, without delay and preconditions."

Among other things, it mentions the need for Kosovo to implement the agreement on the establishment of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities and to act in accordance with the commitments for “an appropriate level of self-government for the Serb community in Kosovo” in accordance with Article 7, as provided for in the normalization agreement and its annex.

It is expected that the issue of structures supported by Serbia, including those of healthcare and education services, will be resolved in accordance with the commitments of the dialogue and that work will be done on the reintegration of Kosovo Serbs, based on their participation at all institutional levels.

At one point in the draft conclusions, in the section on Kosovo, the country is applauded for being in line with EU foreign policy, condemning Russia's war in Ukraine.Indeksonline/