Von Croamon: No accelerated procedures for Kosovo's EU, NATO membership

European Parliament MP and rapporteur for Kosovo Violet von Cromon has “outlined Kosovo's hopes for membership with accelerated procedures in the European Union and NATO.

She even called on institutional leaders in Kosovo and the region not to raise citizens' expectations.

I don't see any accelerated procedure for anyone here. But we still have to fight for you as far as visa liberalisation is concerned, this is the first step. Then we have to have successful dialogue, this is the next step and then we can start the normal path of European integration. I don't see that there's a majority, maybe I'm wrong and I haven't figured it out well, but as I've heard so far we're going to follow the situation in Kosovo and the other five countries in the Western Balkans very close and be in close contact with all”.

But to have an accelerated process that would be supported by the Council and by most capitals I have not heard of. I'm going to ask everyone here in Kosovo and other Western Balkan countries not to increase the expectations of their own population, then we should finally be the ones to clear this up and it's going to look like a disappointment for every”.

However, she said Kosovo has met the conditions for becoming a member of the Council of Europe and is now a good opportunity, following Russia's suspension.

“I think this is a good opportunity to testify and show that Kosovo has met all the key conditions to become a member of the Council of Europe. Since one of the biggest opponents (Russia) of this membership has been suspended, I think we could find the majority for Kosovo's application. I hope we will find a way where there is a vast majority that we will win and understand that as a contribution to peace and stability in Europe”.

European Parliament MP and Kosovo rapporteur Violet von Cremon stayed in Kosovo for three days, where she met with institutional leaders and civil society representatives.