Last poll: Kosovars extremely love NATO, believe on average in EULEX, EU

At a time that 94% of respondents say they are satisfied with NATO's work. Cameron Mailhot, author of research with 1600 Kosovo residents, who are conducting doctoral studies at Cornell University in New York, says a sense of pro-Serbian expectation among Albanians is noted.

“Pester had no concrete questions about whether the EU is anti-Albanian or pro-Serbian, but the data speaks of growing dissatisfaction in Kosovo with the EU, its EULEX mission, and this is the case easily with the way people there expressed themselves. For example, in Kosovo you see slogans everywhere like what it says EULEX is the product of Serbia”, says Mr. Mailhot.

In addition to it, even a research by the International Republican Institute, published earlier this year, shows that unlike 2020, when 85% of respondents have said Kosovo's foreign policy should be only pro-EU and Western, in 2022, that figure has dropped to 77%.

In 2020, 85% of respondents have said Kosovo's foreign policy should only be pro-EU and West, in 2022 this has dropped to 77%
Former Director for the Western Balkans to the European Commission, from 2006 to 2013, Pierre Mirel, says one of the clear reasons is the non-recognition of Kosovo by five EU countries: Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Romania and Cyprus.

The “Banors in Kosovo think that the fact that 5 countries do not recognise Kosovo makes the EU biased towards Serbia on many issues. These five countries say they would change their stance if Serbia knew Kosovo”, said Pierre Mirel, former Director for the Balkans at the European Commission.

This perception in Kosovo is further fed by the fact that the two senior EU officials, who today run dialogue with Serbia, Josep Borell and Miroslav Lajcak, come from the government that has not recognised Kosovo. But Mr. Mirel says it's not fair.

Perhaps this is the impression of the people of Kosovo, but it is wrong. Consider my case when I worked in the European Commission. I am French, and in the case of suppose, when French authorities have had difficulty with one or the other issues in the Balkans, then my role, or my duty was to speak with them and to try to find a solution”, says the Voice of America Pierre Mirel.

And, if I failed, this certainly had nothing to do with the fact that I'm French. From my experience, I tell you this has no effect. ”

Georgetown University professor in Washington, Elton Skandefi, says the reason for EU discontent in Kosovo is the way EULEX works.

EULEX remains neutral, though it should work with those institutions itself, which make up the basis of the independent state of Kosovo”
“EULEX remains neutral towards Kosovo status, although there is a paradox here, which even researchers consider: E ULEX must work with those institutions itself, which make up the basis of the independent state of Kosovo. I think that this uncertainty conflicts with the goals and desires of the Kosovo Albanian population”, Elton Skadi told Voice of America and adds that Kosovo's discontent with EULEX increases even from the high expectations that residents have had in solving the problems inherited by the UN mission, UNMIK, in terms of rule of law and handling war crimes.

Many senior officials in Kosovo have not concealed the desire for the United States to play a larger role, to reach a final solution with Serbia. This somehow reflects lack of faith on The EU, as mediator.

“The EU plays a very important role as mediator in Kosovo in relation to ties with Serbia and in relation to the international community. So, to be able to play the mediator, it matters how people in that country view its role and whether they view it as partial or impartial. This is important because there is a large group of residents, who view it as immediate and two-thirds is not a small group”, estimates research author Cameron Mailhot.

But for the former Director for the Western Balkans at the European Commission, Pierre Mirel has reason for optimism.

The EU has not requested recognition so far. The EU says Serbia must accept a legally binding agreement with Kosovo, which would allow full normalisation of relations. If that happens and doesn't happen recognition, then I don't think Serbia would be allowed to join the EU”, Mr. Mirel told Voice of America.

He recalls that the most influential country in the EU, Germany recently made it clear that recognition would be Serbia's way towards membership.

Two countries that do not recognise each other cannot be thought to become EU members

It is clear that a final agreement should also clarify the issue of Kosovo's recognition, because two countries that do not recognise each other cannot be thought to become EU members”, Mr. Scholz said during his stay in Pristina on 10 June.

This appears to have come as a surprise to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who hours after this statement met the German Chancellor in Belgrade.

We never heard anyone in Europe call for mutual recognition.
We heard today that there is a request for mutual recognition. We never heard anyone in Europe call for mutual recognition. No one has ever spoken of mutual recognition, except for Americans, who approved this doctrine three years ago”, Serbian President Vucic said in Belgrade.

The U.S. and the EU's stances towards independence are reflected in surveys, when the United States' view of the United States has been consistently positive, due to its firm support for Kosovo's citizenship, against impressions, sometimes even wrong to the EU, because of its neutral position on independence.

According to research by the International Republic Institute, the absolute majority of those interviewed in Kosovo in 2022 believed that the US is the largest foreign donor, while the largest foreign donor is the European Union with about 1.5 billion euros invested between 2007 and 2020, according to official EU data.

Experts also estimate that despite dissatisfaction with the EU, an important fact remains unchanged.

If you were to do a research asking if you wanted visa liberalisation and join the EU, I guarantee you over 90% would say yes. Yes, there are people who are not satisfied while they think why the EU has not done enough to help, given that it is the largest donor?

But the main reason for blaming the EU is not visa liberalisation. This process began in June 2012, when Kosovo received the visa liberalisation guide with more conditions, compared to other Balkan countries.

“I am very pleased to announce our visa liberalisation proposal for Kosovo citizens”, European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramoopoulos announced in May 2016, in the presence of Kosovo Interior Minister Skender Hyseni in Brussels.

Kosovo, until the adoption of the proposal, had to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro and achieve results in fighting organised crime and corruption.

A day later, EU top diplomat Federica Moghrini in the speech given at the Kosovo Parliament spoke joyfully about the news.

“Today is not just a day to celebrate, but today is the day to look towards our common future”, Mrs. Moghrin said in Pristina on May 5, 2016.

But, the holiday did not last and took another two years until the European Commission made the final recommendation for visa liberalisation for Kosovo.

“We can confirm that Kosovo has fulfilled all the guide criteria for visa liberalisation. It hasn't been easy, we know this”, Commissioner Avramoopoulos said.

In September 2018 The European Parliament voted in favour of launching domestic negotiations on the issue.

“Parliament's instability is not least at stake. Kosovo has met all conditions for visa liberalisation. I ask you to vote in favor. Kosovo citizens deserve this”, European Parliament rapporteur for Visa Liberalisation Tanja Fajon said before the euro.

“Vises should have been liberalised so far. This decision has not been made because some member states have rejected it because they had a different assessment regarding the fulfillment of conditions from Kosovo. Hence, the issue has been blocked for four years. I understand that Kosovo citizens consider this to be discrimination”, former Director for the Balkans at the European Commission told the Voice of America.

On 13 October, the Council of the EU, with Czech proposal, has put the discussion of this issue in order day, but until visa-free travel, a host of procedures and voting within EU structures are required:

The process could move forward if EU ambassadors vote for the start of negotiations within the European bloc.

If this phase is passed, then discussions between the bloc's three pillars begin: Commission, Parliament and the European Council.

If agreement is reached, then it goes to the EU ambassadors for approval.

Later, the European Parliament must vote for visa liberalisation.

After Parliament, it is still EU ambassadors who must vote for visa liberalisation.

The last vote must be held by EU ministers.

If European ministers also approve visa liberalisation, then the legal act should be signed by all three pillars of the EU, the European Commission, Parliament and the European Council.

The decision, including the day it goes into effect, must be published in the Official Journal, and the visa-free travel opposition ends.
Despite complicated relations, experts agree that the Western Balkans have no alternative other than the EU. (VOA)