an hour agoEuropean Parliament discusses Kosovo reports next week
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee member David McAllister said the European Parliament supports Kosovo-Serbia dialogue with an agreement between the two countries, but that the same would be accepted between the two countries and would be under international law. He said that today in Pristina, after the meeting he had with [...]
He said that in Pristina today, following the meeting he had with Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhan, adding that France and Germany have some concerns about the issue of visa liberalisation for Kosovo. But he stressed that visa liberalisation should be accompanied by fighting crime and corruption.
McAllister said they are conveying the process of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, and that the European Parliament will have a stance.
He said the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission at the end of next week will debate reports on Kosovo and Serbia.
I have an important meeting with President Thaci last night and with Prime Minister Haradinaj this morning, and I would like to give you an answer. The European Parliament is debating reports on Kosovo and Serbia, we will have voting in the foreign policy office next week, and in late November we will have the final report. The rapporteur for Kosovo and I have agreed together with representatives of other political groups, that is the position the European Parliament will take. The European Parliament emphasises the multiethnic nature of Kosovo and Serbia, and homogenous states should not be objects on regional issues. The European Parliament supports dialogue as a form through which agreement will be reached between the two countries, and the European Parliament considers any agreement can be accepted if the parties are hired and if international law and the regional situation le” is considered, he said.
While for visa liberalisation, he said it is time for member states to offer visa liberalisation for Kosovo, and according to him it would be unprecedented, that if a country passes through all processes, it will return first with the same processes.
He said a part of the government in Germany has not yet taken a stand, and is internal discussion. But, he said, because of talks with the French Germans, they agree to encourage Kosovo in the field of fighting corruption and migration.
“Finance, Germany has some inside but we have to move on, I have to stress once again what Kosovo has accomplished, it has been very difficult for Kosovo to meet those preconditions, for example, demarcation of the border with Montenegro. What the Government of Kosovo must do now is continue clarification, decisions that have been made, make clear that visa liberalisation should be accompanied by fighting crime and corruption, and the issue of migration”, he said.
And Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj stressed once again that Kosovo has fulfilled all the criteria, and that they are now awaiting word by the Council of Europe.
Kosovo has fulfilled all possible criteria, we have the European Parliament's positive decision, we have positive recommendation of the European Commission, and we expect the European Council during the coming weeks and months to complete this process. The purpose of his visit is to be informed of the important processes Kosovo is going through, and Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and the internal situation in Kosovo, but since it has been a crucial supporter of visa liberalisation in the European Parliament for a long time, until the final conclusion, we expect from Mr. McAllister to help us further in such a process”, he said.
At this conference, MCAllister said visa liberalisation would improve stability and bring Kosovo to the European Parliament by facilitating travel and doing business, and fighting corruption.
