Brussels, 01/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 1 April, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn hailed the entry into force of the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) the same day between the EU and Kosovo (see EUROPE 11522).
“This agreement opens a new phase in the EU-Kosovo relationship and represents an important contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in Kosovo and the region at large”, Mogherini stated in a press release, hailing the SAA's implementation. Hahn said the SAA was “a milestone” for EU-Kosovo relations. In his view, “it will help keep Kosovo on the path of reform and will create trade and investment opportunities”.
The SAA establishes a contractual relationship between the EU and Kosovo, and strengthens political dialogue between the two parties. It also favours trade relations and encourages closer cooperation to be established - especially on energy, jobs, justice and home affairs. The SAA also establishes an area that allows free trade and the application of EU standards in areas such as competition, state aid and intellectual property.
Negotiated between October 2013 (see EUROPE 10952) and May 2014 (see EUROPE 11071), the SAA was initialled in July 2015 and signed on 27 October (see EUROPE 11419). The Kosovan National Assembly ratified the agreement on 2 November 2015 and the European Parliament endorsed it on 21 January 2016 (see EUROPE 11473). The SAA was officially concluded on 12 February 2016. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)