Brussels, 12/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - Kosovo could make a great stride forward in the long process of European Union accession if it progresses on four important files by June 2013 - and this in spite of its differences with Serbia on its status, European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle said in Pristina on Friday 12 October (see EUROPE 10707 on Commission's feasibility study).
The continuation of the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade “in itself is not a condition” for Kosovo to open negotiations with the European side on the conclusion of a stabilisation and association agreement (SAA), the first stage towards possible EU membership, Füle said. However, before beginning these negotiations, “in the first half of next year” Pristina has to record progress in the fields of “the rule of law, public administration, protection of minorities and trade capacities”, Füle stated. At the end of a meeting with Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, Füle said at a press conference that they would not find the continuation of the dialogue among the priorities set out by the European Commission to open the SAA dialogue.
The Commission presented a feasibility study for the SAA with Pristina, saying that “there is no legal obstacle” and “Kosovo is largely ready to open negotiations for such an agreement.” Füle travelled to Pristina from Belgrade, where he had said on Thursday that the EU expects Serbia to resume talks with Kosovo and also expects concrete results before granting Serbia a date for the start of accession negotiations. Belgrade and Pristina began a dialogue under the auspices of the EU in March 2011 which translated into several agreements to improve the daily life of the Kosovo population. These talks were broken off the day before the general election in Serbia in May. Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence in 2008. Serbia was fiercely against this. (LC/transl.fl)