Brussels, 27/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 27 March, the European commissioner for enlargement, Stefan Füle, launched a feasibility study into the stabilisation and association agreement with Kosovo. During a speech in Pristina to the Council for European Integration, the commissioner underlined that this “launch of the feasibility study is an important step and part of our ambitious agenda for EU-Kosovo relations”. He explained: “The feasibility study will make an inventory of where Kosovo stands overall in terms of political, economic and legal approximation, and will assess what Kosovo will need to do further to be in a position to negotiate and implement a stabilisation and association agreement.” He added: “Now it is for Kosovo to deliver. You need to help us to help you. The recommendations of the study will depend on what you can deliver in the coming months.”
Five important elements. The commissioner said that the key element in the stabilisation and association agreement was trade, which would be at the core of the feasibility study. He explained that a new mission would be in Kosovo in June and that it was “important that you prepare the ground thoroughly to ensure a positive outcome from this mission”. He also asserted that progress on public administration reform is key and that “the study will assess Kosovo's capacity to negotiate a stabilisation and association agreement. This is a major challenge for your young public administration.”
The commissioner also wants to begin a structured dialogue on the primacy of law, with the justice minister, Hajredin Kuci, and his counterpart at home affairs, Bajram Rexhepi. He added: “I look forward to seeing significant progress in Kosovo on this crucial issue by then” and also called for better integration of minorities, including the Serbs.
Finally, the commissioner pointed out that the Council for European Integration aimed to promote broader consensus throughout the political spectrum and civil society regarding Kosovo's European programme. Füle has called on Kosovo to develop a common point of view as soon as possible on electoral reform, so that the country is in compliance with international standards. (CG/transl.fl)