EU mask on Kosovo

Since Kosovo cannot be an integral part of the EU, due to its non-recognition by five member states, citizens and local political classes should begin to examine and gradually build the model of Switzerland, Norway and Iceland for economic and political partnerships with the EU.

It has been years since EU institutions and member states officials tell Kosovo that it will one day join this European family, despite the fact that membership is impossible without being recognised by all countries, due to the current rule in force for (not) accepting new members.

In November, I wrote on local information tools that Kosovo is on an endless road to EU entry, precisely for this reason.

Spain's position in the letter sent to the European Commission (reported by the Koha Ditore) is only gradually and publicly revealing the great and bitter truth for Kosovo about the masked but also futile promises from Brussels and its member states for its (impossible) perspective towards the EU.

Now, gradually, the masks of several years' barren vocabulary within the EU are dropping. This will cause confusion and a major crossroads for Kosovo and its citizens.

Officials of EU institutions and member states will now gradually be less reliable when they again say Kosovo has prospects for EU entry. Kosovo citizens will gradually lose confidence in them. To Kosovo politicians, for the same vocabulary, as well.

This great truth, will gradually have to provoke another of its citizens of Kosovo, its politicians, but also its member states that were most vocal in promises to Kosovo for EU membership.

Kosovo and Kosovars will gradually start thinking of other alternatives.

And there are options like that. Examples would have to be taken from Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland.

All three countries have strong reports with the EU. Their economies are beautifully interconnected and even largely dependent on the European bloc.

In March 2006, a few months after Angela Merkel came to power (November 2005), she suggested for Western Balkan countries a ʹPrivileged partnership,https://euobserver.com/entation/21163) a less option than full membership.

She at the press conference on March 15th 2006 came up with such a suggestion, even though in Thessaloniki EU member states pledged full membership for the countries of the region.

While Kosovo will not be able to join the EU because of five non-recognitional states, Merkel's first 12 years of suggestion for all Balkan countries should be considered by the Kosovo political class as an alternative, not to continue with the barren dictionary for prospects for EU entry.

Kosovo cannot continue with dream promises, when EU enlargement rules themselves do not allow it to become a full member.

The experiences of three states (Switzerland, Norway and Iceland) say good life even outside the EU, that there are other options to strengthen the state, develop the economy and the welfare of citizens.

But for this alternative option, Kosovo needs a strong partner, a European country, to examine and gradually make the goal, the project and make it real.

Germany is the best address to help the experiences of the three highest states mentioned take life until all states recognise independence, if they are to know in any distant future.