Debate on the European integration process of Kosovo, during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Statements by Bert KOENDERS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations and Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT), Rapporteur.

Strasbourg

debate

EU - Kosovo (T)

LUNACEK, Ulrike (Greens/EFA, AT)

HAHN, Johannes (AT, EC)

KOENDERS, Bert (NL)

European integration process of Kosovo : extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Bert KOENDERS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Let me welcome your recent consent to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Kosovo, it was an important decision. We are now working in the Council conclude the agreement and to have enter into force as soon as possible. The SAA agreement, the first comprehensive agreement between the EU and Kosovo, sends in my view an important political signal of support and it is of course of critical importance for the future of Kosovo.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bert KOENDERS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, It's therefore now essential for Kosovo to focus on the implementation of the agreement, I think particular attention should be paid to improving the rule of law, including judicial independence. Kosovo also needs to intensify the fight against organised crime and corruption, which remains a serious problem.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bert KOENDERS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, The Council is concerned about the current political standoff in Kosovo which in our view needs to be urgently resolved. We condemn all use of violence and we have clearly called on all sides concerned to address the challenges through political dialogue and to engage in the implementation of Kososvo's European reform agenda.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bert KOENDERS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Association and stabilisation go in the end hand in hand. And stabilisation in this context also includes moving forward on the normalisation of relations with Serbia, as we just discussed in our previous debate. Unless stabilisation is clearly visible it will be difficult to move forward on association.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bert KOENDERS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Let me add just a few comments on the visa liberalisation process, which is a top political priority for Kosovo. The Commission's recent report considers that Kosovo has been steadily and effectively progressing in all areas covered by the visa liberalisation road map. At the same time it also notes outstanding requirements which will need to be fulfilled, of which four important areas remain key priorities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, I hope that political leaders in Kosovo take the opportunity of the adoption of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement to sit around the table to discuss their differences and find a way out of the political stalemate. The political paralysis in Pristina has lasted far too long.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Kosovo needs to address structural reforms to tackle key economic reform challenges, unemployment is unacceptably high and economic development is not sufficient; More focus is needed on delivery of results on the fight against organised crime and corruption; The same goes for the independence and capacity for the judiciary.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT), Rapporteur, There's also progress in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Not good enough yet but there's progress; Kosovo will soon if things go well have a telephone code of its own which it hasn't had yet. So there is progress but still it is not enough. This parliament has been supportive of Kosovo's statehood, its independence since beginning, and we need to move forward on that with the Commission and with the Council because this country is still not fully recognised by all EU Member States, 5 are still blocking.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT), Rapporteur, Give the green light, make sure that Kosovo citizens can travel freely.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT), Rapporteur, I have called on the opposition time and again to stop blocking the Assembly, to stop using violence, in the Assembly and also outside. Demonstrations are fine but peaceful ones please. I will also call on all of them to follow the call of President Atifete JAHJAGA to get on a dialogue table and to find a non-violent solution of the domestic crisis.