Brussels, 18/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 17 February, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn criticised the use of violence in Kosovo. Violent demonstrations have been going on for several months to protest against the normalisation of relations with Serbia, and the opposition is boycotting work at Parliament, also using violence.
“Any use of violence is unacceptable. Differences must be resolved through political dialogue”, Hahn said at his meeting in Brussels with the leader of the Kosovo Assembly, Kadri Veseli, Hahn's spokesperson Maja Kocijancic stated. Hahn and Veseli also discussed the “serious political situation”, and recent developments on the ground. The anniversary of Kosovo's independence on 17 February was marked by a demonstration of several thousand people in Pristina, which was called by the opposition to demand the resignation of the government, which is judged as corrupt by the opposition.
Kocijancic stated that Hahn encouraged Kosovo to move forward in its reform process in order to support the conditions for economic development. In its progress report published on 10 November 2015 (see EUROPE 11429), the Commission called on Kosovo to move ahead in its pursuit of reforming the public administration, the judicial system, the independence of the media, and the fight against corruption.
Once the outstanding criteria are met, the Commission will propose a visa-free regime for Kosovo, Hahn stated. Kosovo hopes to be able to take advantage of this by the end of 2016 (see EUROPE 11484). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)