The General Affairs Council of the European Union, at the meeting of the ministers of the member countries, approved the conclusions dedicated to the enlargement process on Tuesday in Brussels.
Through them, the EU member states have reiterated their commitment to continuing the enlargement process, based on the principle of individual merits of the countries aiming for EU integration, but have also called on them to continue the reform process and they also resolve bilateral disagreements.
The European Union, through these conclusions, has called on both Kosovo and Serbia to implement without delay and without preconditions the Agreement on the path towards the normalization of relations between them, reminding them that this is also a condition for their progress in the integration process in EU.
Kosovo in particular is required to start without delay the establishment of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority, while Serbia is required to start recognizing the documents and symbols of Kosovo.
"The Council reiterates that the Agreement on the path towards the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the annex for implementation, approved in February and March 2023, must be respected and fully implemented as soon as possible, without preconditions, even if all other obligations from the EU, as well as all existing obligations from the dialogue", it is stated in this document, which underlines the call related to the creation of the Association.
"This also includes the establishment of the Association/Community of municipalities with a Serbian majority, starting with the forwarding of the draft Statute which the EU facilitator had presented to the parties, through the decision of the Government of Kosovo, to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo without delay new", it is said, among other things.
In these conclusions, the EU will once again condemn the violence in the north of Kosovo, including the recent attacks in the Ibër-Lepenci canal, but also last year's attacks in Banjska, and expresses deep regret that Serbia has not taken steps sufficient to bring those responsible to justice.
"The Council remains deeply concerned about the situation in the north of Kosovo. "Kosovo and Serbia must take sustainable steps for expansion, refrain from unilateral and provocative actions that could lead to tensions and violence, and avoid divisive rhetoric," this document states.
Through these conclusions, the EU has said that the measures against Kosovo will be removed in parallel with the steps that Kosovo must take to reduce tensions in the north.
A reminder for Kosovo and Serbia that their path towards the EU depends on progress in the process of normalizing relations and that the lack of this progress will affect them losing the right opportunity.
"In accordance with the statement of the High Representative on behalf of the EU, the EU has implemented reversible measures against Kosovo. The EU will gradually remove these measures in parallel with Kosovo's other steps to escalate the situation in the north. The council will continue to deal with this issue", it is emphasized in this document.
Meanwhile, EU countries have welcomed the closing of three chapters in the negotiation process with Montenegro and the opening of a group chapter with Albania.
As for Serbia, even though the Hungarian Presidency and the European Commission have made maximum efforts to open chapter 3, this has not happened as some countries have blocked this decision. Serbia is reminded that in order to advance towards the EU, it must make more progress, especially in the field of the rule of law, but also in the normalization of relations with Kosovo.
Serbia has not opened any chapter since December 2021. In conclusion, the EU states that it will return to the opening of chapters with Serbia as soon as Belgrade makes progress on these points.
As a compromise, the EU countries have agreed to send a letter to Serbia from the Hungarian Presidency, through which they invite Belgrade to present the negotiating position for the chapters in question. This is a symbolic step, but it does not foresee the opening of the chapters, since for such a thing again the agreement of all the member countries of the European Union is needed. REL (A2 Televizion)
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