Hahn: European perspective will have direct impact on Kosovo- Serbia

European Union Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the prospect of European integration for Western Balkan countries is the only guarantee for the development of this region.

Hahn said all possible must be done to overcome the vacuum, which was created following the European Council's decision to postpone the start date for membership talks with northern Macedonia and Albania.

“The biggest motivation of these countries is the possibility of EU membership. The Western Balkans are not a suburb of Europe, but part of Europe. We cannot have a situation where the whole population is left behind. We would be in the vacuum and this could create a risk to security”, Hahn said, speaking to the European Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee.

He stressed that the European perspective will also have a direct impact on dialogue on normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

“From the Serbian point of view, the idea of an agreement between the two countries would make sense only if the prospect of EU accession” existed, Hahn said.

This was his last speech as a commissionary responsible for enlargement. Hahn will also be commissionary in the new composition of the European Commission, which is expected to start work next month, but will address budget issues.

In October, the European Council has declined to start membership negotiations with northern Macedonia and Albania. The biggest objections have come from France, which has called on these two countries to continue reforms, but has also stressed the need to reform the EU itself.