European MPs support Kosovo's NATO membership: Russia's testing in region worries us

The chairman of the Defence Commission in the Portuguese Parliament, Marcos Vasconcellos, has spoken of security in Kosovo and the region. He has voiced confidence that the dialogue will come to an end with Kosovo's full integration into the European Union, but also in NATO.

Vasconcellos said the current stability of this region is essential for the security of all of Europe.

“The security and stability of the entire Western Balkans region is absolutely essential for the security of all Europe, and for historical reasons and that the current stability of this region is absolutely essential for the security of all of Europe. So, all that European states, the European Union and NATO can do to increase security and stability in this region is in Kosovo's best interests and in the best of Europe”, he said.

As for the destabilisation of the region from Russia, he said all of Europe is being destabilised by this intervention. According to him, Europe should have a stronger commitment to implementing the rules of democracy in each of the countries of Europe.

The “all of Europe is destabilising itself by Russian intervention in Ukraine and by the division Russia makes in countries, with other types of instruments that are not conquests or bombings, and this is a threat that Europe must have and Europe must have an answer and answer is a stronger commitment, with the integration of countries and stronger devotion to the rule of law, and with the implementation of the rules of democracy in each of the countries of Europe, countries like Kosovo and other Western Balkan countries. We in Europe see strongly the destabilisation that Russia is provoking in some countries, both in Serbia and Hungary or in other countries that have many kinds of attacks from Russia and from internal destabilisation. This is a concern all Europeans must have, say, ”, he added.

Furthermore, he believes the final solution to the dialogue will be with Kosovo's full integration into the European Union, but also in NATO.

I strongly believe that all of Europe has much to gain with the strongest integration of European countries, and especially Western Balkan countries. So what I believe and hope strongly, is that this dialogue will come to an end with Kosovo's full integration into the European Union, but also in NATO”, Vasconcellos has ended.

Slovenia's National Assembly deputy and once a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Slovenia, Miha Lamut, said the Slovenian state is also in favour of Kosovo.

“The security of the Republic of Kosovo is the main issue in the Western Balkans region, and I think it is known that Slovenia has always been in favour of independent Kosovo and Kosovo as a stable country, as well as a country moving towards progress”, he said.

By contrast, many of the European deputies have participated in NATO's 102nd Rose-Rhoth Senate Parliamentary Assembly, with the <x0-Atlantic integration theme of the Western Balkans, protracted challenges, new realities and future prospects. / KP/