Haradinaj: Going to Work for EU Candidate Status

So it was said today at the European Integration Ministerial Council, where meetings were held about the findings of the progress report by the European Union for Kosovo.

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj stressed that in this report, achieved and stalled in certain areas, but some labour commitments have remained unincluded in the report, a commitment is needed to achieve Kosovo candidate status in the EU.

A report in which there are estimates of reaching the country, but also of remarks and criticism or other findings that force us together to face them. We express our conviction that some aspects of our work have not been included in this report. However, it is our duty to get to work based on the findings of this country report so that we can walk on all topics ahead of us. We've talked that our ambition is candidate status for Kosovo. So, we cannot continue to be conditioned solely by the implementation of the SAA”, Haradinaj stressed.

He reiterated that liberalising visits should happen as soon as possible, as some powerful EU countries support Kosovo on this road to European integration.

And what has come well for all of us like Kosovo, which is continuing to be accepted by single governments, so after the German government, is the language in relation to the urgency of visa liberalisation and I believe we will work in this direction”, he said.

While, European Integration Minister Gift Hoxha said the priority remains EU integration, but it is unacceptable that a significant number of recommendations are repeated year-on-year.

Minister Hoxha said it is important to identify areas in which Kosovo is mired or gaps in implementation. According to her, there is no fulfillment of legal obligations and responsibilities from acts designated for numerous delays in implementing projects either for political or technical reasons such as the warehouse in Fushe Kosovo.

So let this warning be our last, to prove our real commitment to our strategic obligations where EU integration remains the priority. Moreover, in terms of implementing the ERA against achievements, we also need to focus on what we can do most especially on the measures that are under way. It is also unacceptable in terms of the country's report that a considerable number of recommendations are repeated over the years. And we still have a lot of work to do in implementing legislation, fighting corruption, fighting an informal economy, electoral reform. These are all found, and we've counted them in”, Hoxha said.

She further said Kosovo does not have time for such tolerations, but a comprehensive commitment is needed in meeting the requirements within the deadlines.