EU rejects opening of Kosovo Embassy in Jerusalem

EU spokesperson for Foreign Policy and Security Peter Stano has said that as far as the opening of the Kosovo Embassy in Jerusalem and the transfer of Serbia's embassy to this city, these are bilateral commitments to the parties.

But he has said that the EU has a clear stance on Jerusalem and that there are no EU embassys in this city and that there are no EU delegations there.

“As for embassies is their bilate commitment. These questions should be asked to them. I can only say that the EU's position on embassy movements in Jerusalem is known and has not changed. There is no EU state with embassys in Jerusalem. There are no EU delegations to Jerusalem. It's in line with the UN Resolution. The EU has reiterated its commitment to resolving two states. Roads must be found through dialogue to resolve Jerusalem's status as head of two countries, Israel and Palestine. Since Kosovo and Serbia have a priority on EU integration, the EU expects both to act in line with that commitment”, Stano has said at the media conference.

At the meeting in Washington, as part of the Kosovo agreement, Israel's recognition was promised, provided the embassy opens in Jerusalem. Serbia pledged to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem next year.

Stano has added that the nearly two-year suspension of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia was not the EU's fault, but the acts.

The EU's “Dialog has been going on since 2011, during this time, many things have been achieved. A lot of progress has been made for people in Kosovo and Serbia since 2011. As for the movement of goods, people, the integration of Serbian policemen, judges and prosecutors into the Kosovo system. The reason for the interruption cannot be found on the EU side, as the EU is willing to help when key actors are willing to move. Only a dialogue helped by the EU is being held, as this dialogue leads towards the European aspirations of Kosovo and Serbia. You can achieve the future of the EU only with this dialogue. Whatever happens side by side and helps positively bring the parties closer to normalising relations and is in line with EU rules is always welcome. It's under way. But the main process is dialogue assisted by the EU. The two acters are interested in moving forward. We're seeing that there's an interest in going before”, he said.

He has also been asked about the recognition of Kosovo by Israel, which he has said the EU does not comment and that it is the question of individual states.

Stano has also reiterated during the conference that Kosovo cannot apply without EU membership without being recognised by all EU member states. And Kosovo is still not recognised by five member states.

“As far as it is concerned when Kosovo will be allowed to apply for EU membership, I must say there are five states that do not recognise it in the EU. Kosovo is unable to apply with this situation. But it has already been known to have clear European ways. We have been working for years very intensively with Kosovo, people and Kosovo representatives, to help them move forward on the road towards European integration, so that one day it will be possible to apply for EU integration. This is one of the goals of dialogue. Since without normalisation of relations, neither side (Kosovo and Serbia) can join the European Union as the final phase. I call on them to look at these things as step by step, not over the stairs. As Kosovo is not recognised as a state by five members, the EU has neutral status in this. We cannot take steps with Kosovo as we would with other states that are recognised by the 27 EU members”, Stano has added.