Brussels, 27/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 27 June, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said that, in her opinion, the normalisation process between Serbia and Kosovo is irreversible and that it was necessary to help the process. Speaking to MEPs in the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Ashton said she hoped that the European Council would make a good, strong decision on 28 June, with the opening of accession negotiations with Serbia and the opening of a stabilisation and association agreement with Kosovo.
Ashton stressed that “there is a lot more to do” and that she would “not stop until it's all done”. “And there is much to do to be sure that on the ground this is undisturbed and accepted.” She added that more progress had to be made and that the solution would be reached after her term of office - although they would continue the dialogue. Ashton said that as well as the implementation issue, there were issues that had not yet been raised and that it would be necessary to discuss.
Another meeting on 8 July. Ashton announced another meeting between the Serbian and Kosovan prime ministers on 8 July. She said that while the telecommunications issues had nearly been settled, the fact that Kosovo was an entity that was not recognised as a country posed logistical challenges. Nevertheless, she said, she could tell the MEPs the dialling code for Kosovo - it was 315. Ashton also hoped that the working group would make progress on the energy issue, but things were moving along at a good pace, she said, although this was a delicate and difficult issue. (CG/transl.fl)