Brussels, 19/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 18 December, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said he hoped that the adoption process of the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) with Kosovo could be completed by the end of 2015.
Expecting the member states to agree to sign the agreement (negotiations for which were completed on 2 May) (see EUROPE 11071), Hahn said that he hoped “to be able to put forward proposals for this in March and that the adoption process would be finished by the end of 2015”. On 16 December, the General Affairs Council noted in its conclusion that the European Commission intended to make proposals for the signature and conclusion of the agreement “as soon as possible” (see EUROPE 11219).
Hahn also underlined the importance for Kosovo to engage on the rule of law again, and he highlighted electoral and economic reforms, and also reforms in public administration and justice. “Kosovo must show a clear commitment regarding the fight against organised crime and corruption”, he added, after meeting Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi.
“We agreed that, now that there is a new government in Pristina, work should resume at an intensified pace in the EU reform agenda so that good progress can be made in the next year, both in its internal development and in its EU path”, said High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in a press release after meeting Thaçi.
Hahn called for implementation of the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, including land registry and the acceptance of university qualifications. The normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is “a big priority” for the EU and for Mogherini, the latter stated. Thaçi said that his government would continue to be engaged with Serbia. A new meeting of the two countries' prime ministers is expected to take place in Brussels in January 2015 (see EUROPE 11219).
Thaçi also stated that the liberalisation of visas was a key priority for the new Kosovan government.
Hahn announced that he would visit Kosovo in the first half of 2015. (CG)