Hahn: Kosovo problem resolution essential for entire region

European Commissioner for European Policy of Business and Enlargement Johannes Hahn has stated that resolving the Kosovo issue is the international community's priority and represents great importance for the development of the entire region.

Hahn during an interview with Austrian daily “Standard” has spoken as you see political readiness for reaching an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina.

He has said he can observe it in Serbia, but not in Kosovo.

Hahn has said he hopes that after the elections warned in Kosovo, conditions for progress will be set.

He has cited the agreement between Skopje and Athens that has brought a positive dynamic into the Balkans, displaying confidence that it is possible to reach such an agreement even between Belgrade and Pristina.

This positive dynamic, unfortunately, stopped with the Pristina tax setting for Serbian goods. Solving Kosovo's problem is essential for the development of the entire region”, he said, broadcasts news.net.

“Standard” has reminded him that Austria also presented blockades when it came to the Balkans, saying the Ministry of Internal Affairs was declared against visa liberalisation for Kosovo.

The Austria currently does not know what their final position is on visa liberalisation for Kosovo. I can stress that Austria's government in its entirety is a major supporter of the European perspective for the Western Balkans. Germany has changed its position regarding Kosovo, and Minister of Internal Affairs Horst Zehofer is now pro-vis liberalisation”, he stressed.

The “in Kosovo's case were 94 conditions, and they were jointly established by members of the European Union. Those conditions were neither me nor the commission. My motto is: If our candidates and partners produce results, it should be that the EU”, Hahn stressed.

He has acknowledged that some members do not abide by agreements, and that poses a problem.

Some think that when something gets out, it won't happen. I can say that Kosovo was first two and a half years ago charged with meeting the criteria. Now, when he has fulfilled them, they become impatient, and with the setting of measures correctly”, he stressed.

Hahn has said that in the meantime a negative mood has been created within the EU Council, and this came as a result of more protracted policies concerning migrants, for which attitudes regarding visa liberalisation have been strengthened.

This situation, he adds, did not exist at the beginning of the process.