Brussels, 22/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is to start negotiations on Pristina's involvement in European programmes. Welcoming the agreement of the Foreign Affairs Council of 15 October on Kosovo's participation in programmes of the EU, the Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Füle, announced on Monday 22 October that the Commission would start negotiations with the country on this subject. “This is a welcomed move which brings Kosovo a step closer to benefiting from EU programmes, like all other Western Balkans countries. We will now start negotiations with Pristina on the draft framework agreement in consultation with the Council”, Füle stressed. The Council decided to “open talks for the conclusion of the framework agreement with Kosovo on the country's involvement in programmes of the Union”. Once the agreement has been negotiated and signed, Kosovo will be able to take part in all EU programmes which are open to all other countries of the Western Balkans. The Commission proposed a draft mandate to negotiate a framework agreement in March 2011. (CG/transl.fl)