The framework agreement between the EU and Kosovo, which sets out the general principles of Kosovo's participation in European Union programmes, will enter into force on 1 August, a source told EUROPE on Thursday 27 July.
While Kosovo had already completed the necessary national procedures for this to enter into force, the agreement was published in the Official Journal of the EU on Thursday 27 July, enabling its entry into force on "the first day of the first month following the day the contracting parties notify each other of the completion of their necessary respective procedures for its entry into force" – in other words on 1 August.
Kosovo will now be able to participate in 17 EU programmes including the COSME programme for the competitiveness of enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, Erasmus +, Horizon 2020, Customs 2020, Creative Europe and the Life programme. Pristina will contribute financially to the EU general budget on the basis of the specific programmes in which it participates.
The EU Council adopted the decision on the conclusion of the framework agreement on 17 July, while MEPs had given their agreement on 4 July to its conclusion (see EUROPE 11823). The framework agreement was signed on 25 November 2016 by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Kosovo's Minister for Foreign Affairs Enver Hoxhaj (see EUROPE 11676). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)