Kosovan Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj denounced the EU's policy towards his country in his speech to the EU-Kosovo Stabilization and Association Council (see EUROPE 12161) on Monday 17 December.
Thus, he considered that "continuous negligence and lack of clarity for [his] country's European perspective", his country was “strongly determined to EU membership as [its] top priority.”
Similarly, while Kosovo has met the 95 criteria for visa liberalisation, “the reflection we receive from the EU is broken and hopeless.” "In response to full commitment on European Reform Agenda (ERA), and vigorous reforms undertaken to strengthen the Rule of Law and its institutions, we receive betrayal and disappointment from EU”, he added. “Our people are being tested beyond what is reasonable or fair. Time is not our friend. We need to see progress", Haradinaj warned.
The Prime Minister also returned to the dialogue with Serbia. According to him, “progress[...]has been minimal. In fact has now derailed completely, especially with the public discussion on the disastrous idea of border correction and territory swap; It has seriously damaged the credibility of the facilitator, and has undermined the achievements we have made in the EU facilitated dialogue for more than seven years. He warned that "Whoever speaks of borders, territories, or any other adjustment of my country, is our enemy."
"The United States' involvement in leading the dialogue is key, while the EU facilitates and provides the leverage to bridge the potential gap between two countries", he added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)