European Union Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, stated on Tuesday that Kosovo's European path depends on normalizing relations with Serbia and not "through unilateral actions."
During a debate held in the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Kos also said that the Commission is ready to prepare an opinion on Kosovo's application for EU membership, as soon as it receives such a request from the Council.
Kosovo applied for membership in the European Union on December 15, 2022, but its application has not yet been reviewed, and as a result it is the only country in the Balkans that does not yet have candidate country status.
While speaking about Kosovo, Kos also called for the rapid formation of institutions, after the parliamentary elections of February 9.
"A functional government and an Assembly are necessary for Kosovo to benefit from the reform and growth plan," she said, among other things.
Kosovo still does not have a new Government, as a result of the failure to constitute the Assembly of Kosovo.
On June 2, the Assembly failed to convene for the 25th time.
The Vetevendosje Movement, which won the most votes in the February 9 elections, and the parties that were in opposition in the previous legislature, have not reached an agreement on the method of voting for the new speaker of parliament, and on the LVV's proposal for this position, Albulena Haxhiu, considering her a divisive figure.
The deputies must elect the president and five vice presidents to finally constitute the new Assembly.
Only after the constitution of the Assembly can the new Government be formed.
During the debate with members of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, which was dedicated to EU enlargement, the situation in Ukraine and the European Neighborhood Policy, European Commissioner Marta Kos also spoke about the Western Balkan countries.
She mentioned that negotiations have already started with Albania for 24 chapters, while it has been made clear to Serbia that it must continue with reforms and restore public trust. Kos sent a message to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, saying that his visit to Moscow for the May 9 celebrations hinders Serbia's progress in the European process.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to her, the political blockade continues, but the door to EU membership remains open.
According to her, Montenegro is making rapid progress in the negotiations – six chapters have been closed and the process is expected to be completed within the next year.
According to the Commissioner, the Commission's aim is to start negotiations with North Macedonia as soon as the necessary constitutional amendments are adopted.
"Bulgaria and North Macedonia should start intensive talks and find a solution to this bilateral issue. I am ready to mediate, if necessary," Kos said.
She also added that the European Commission is examining ways to simplify membership procedures, in order to avoid the risk of bilateral disputes slowing down the process, especially in this sensitive geopolitical context.
As for Georgia, Kos warned that the authorities there are pulling the country away from the EU and endangering the foundations of democracy.
"We must immediately take the next steps with Ukraine and Moldova - everything is ready, and now it is up to the EU Council to start negotiations. If we want peace and stability in Europe, we must be independent and complete the unification of Europe - this is a moral duty," Kos said, among other things.
She added that we are living in a time of profound transformations of the international order and that in just the first six months of her mandate, the global landscape has changed dramatically. Therefore, according to her, in the interests of the security and future of the continent, it is necessary to “complete the unification of Europe.”
"For me, enlargement is much more than just a membership process. It is about the unification of Europe. This is not only a moral imperative, but also a clear condition for a stronger and more secure Europe. In this context, enlargement transcends its traditional meaning and becomes a means of uniting Europe around common values and principles," Kos emphasized.
In this spirit, according to her, the European Union must be ready to project stability and peace across the continent, as well as in the European strategic neighborhood in Central Asia and the Mediterranean.
The European Commissioner for Enlargement expressed hope that over the next four years, at least one more country will become a member of the European Union./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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