12 minutes agoAustrian Eurodeput: Five EU states must recognise Kosovo immediately
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Anyone starting a war should not be successful. It is our political generation's duty to provide this for Europe. By doing so, we are giving the next generation the chance for a life without war”, says Lucas Mandl, spokesman for foreign policy and security and deputy chairman of [...]
Mandl is a member of the parliamentary delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo and chairman of the non-party Friendship Group of Kosovo and representatives of the European People's Party in the European Parliament for Kosovo.
Therefore, it deals intensively with the six countries of the Western Balkans, broadcasts news.net.
Recently, Mandl was responsible for the report on fighting organised crime in the Western Balkans as chief negotiator for the European Parliament, as well as leading the EU election monitoring mission for local elections in Kosovo in the autumn.
“Fighting aggression against Ukraine, a country based on our values of democracy and rule of law, has led to some irritating developments in the Western Balkans. While five states clearly support Europe's unity against the Russian attack, there are irritating tendencies on the part of the Serbian leadership, distance from the EU, the lack of solidarity towards Ukraine, and understanding of the aggressor”, Mandl is clearly expressed.
Serbia's “Citizens deserve structures at all levels that respect our European values. Europe deserves unity in diversity. Ukraine deserves solidarity and Russian leadership deserves full-effected sanctions. All EU institutions now must urgently call on Serbia to distance itself clearly from any form of war. Otherwise, EU membership negotiations would be a futile enterprise. Likewise, normalising relations with the Republic of Kosovo must be completed immediately, and recognition must be prepared without delay”, Mandl says.
Eurodeputt adds: “Now is the time for those five member states that have not yet recognised Kosovo to do so eventually. Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain must immediately recognise the Republic of Kosovo. That would also be a strong sign of the unity of the European community's values. You don't necessarily talk about it, but everything speaks of it. The moment is now. ”
It is understandable that the president of the Ursula Commission von der Leyen is talking about Ukraine's EU membership in this situation. But before that happens, the six Western Balkan states must eventually be accepted. This is a much smaller region, which is much more advanced in its maturity in the EU”, concludes Mandl.
