Brussels, 02/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 1 April, European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle welcomed the progress made in the negotiations on the stabilisation and association agreement with Kosovo. He expressed his “confidence” that these negotiations would be “completed shortly”.
The negotiations were launched at the end of October, aiming for completion in spring 2014 with the draft agreement to be initialled in the summer (see EUROPE 10952). All of this “without prejudice to positions on the status” of the country, which is not recognised as an independent state by five member states (Spain, Cyprus, Romania, Greece and Slovakia).
At their meeting in Brussels on 1 April, Füle, Minister for European Integration Vlora Citaku and Minister for Foreign Affairs Enver Hoxhaj discussed the general elections scheduled to be held this year, with taks touching on the update on the voters' list. “This is particularly important in view of the general elections planned for this year. Kosovo should build on the successful local elections of late last year”, the Commission states in a press release.
Füle also stressed the increasing importance to the EU of development and economic governance, “which are closely linked to the rule of law”, an issue on which the country still has work to do. “Kosovo urgently needs to work on a strategic approach to its economic well-being and its efforts to fight the scourge of unacceptably high unemployment, especially among the young”, the Commission stressed. It added that the EU is prepared to help Pristina to address these challenges.
Füle also reminded the Kosovar ministers of the importance of continuing the good cooperation with the EULEX mission. “The rule of law will remain a top priority for EU-Kosovo relations for years to come. Kosovo should continue to make the best use of all the help that is on offer”, he stated. (CG)