Kosovo has shown significant progress towards its EU integration aspirations starting with the signing of the SAA in 2008, while in 2016 it signed and approve. The European Reform Agenda, meanwhile the European Commission has approved visa liberalization for Kosovo. However, the path of integration in Kosovo remains complicated due to the lack of recognition by EU member states and the lack of political, economic and social reforms as criteria to be met by an aspiring country towards the EU.
In order to discuss these points, the D4D Institute on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, held the Salon with the topic: “Kosovo’s path to EU integration: At what stage are we?”. Part of this salon as a panelist were: Teuta Sahatqija, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lulzim Peci, Executive Director of Kipred and Donika Emini, Executive Director of Civikos.
Emphasizing the European perspective of Kosovo more special compared to other countries, Ms. Sahatqija emphasizes that the change of governments in the country has affected the intensity of the country and Europe to engage in this field. Recognition of European states would invest in UN recognition, values and democratization of states in the Western Balkans region. Kosovo’s stalemate in this process hinders it in its state development, therefore greater cooperation with the EU must and is needed to increase.
Lulzim Peci, meanwhile, stressed the great and important impact of the European Union in Kosovo since the war, moving on to Kosovo’s state-building reforms. The agreement signed in 2013 between Kosovo and Serbia, on not hindering each other in their journey towards the EU does not mean that Serbia will not use its veto, which is of fundamental importance for the future of Kosovo in BE. Thus, the dialogue and negotiation of Kosovo with Serbia is to its advantage in avoiding the blockade for its Euro-Atlantic future, where essential in this journey is the recognition of Kosovo by the 5 EU member states and the completion of certain reforms, where our country stands far behind in meeting them.
Mrs. Emini argued that EU integration means a domain which is integrated within the internal functioning of the state, and Kosovo has not yet shown a progress that changes Kosovo’s policy in this regard, emphasizing here the 35 chapters of European standards. On the other hand is the lack of will of the European Union, where currently its focus is on its internal affairs and the Western Balkans is standing aside, where in this framework of course the interests of the states are involved. Also, Mrs. Emini stressed the approach methodology for the EU integration of Kosovo and the Western Balkan countries for negotiation with the EU in technical processes and the importance of regional cooperation of states.
This salon was realized with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).