4 hours agoCroatian President: Kosovo's non-recognition by Serbia, stumbling block to EU enlargement
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said today at the Prespa Forum that the “highest standards in the EU must lower standards for Western Balkan countries seeking membership in the European Union. He said that without Kosovo recognition from Serbia there can be no expansion of the EU with Balkan countries [...]
By Croatian mediaMilanovic stressed that the European “institutions are not an obstacle to the membership of Western Balkan countries in the European Union, but some countries, including Germany”.
The European Union could accept all those Western Balkan countries if some European Union countries wanted it. There are only a few countries that always have some very high criteria that I appreciate. However, this is really a serious situation in which countries see no prospects”, Milanvic told reporters while attending the Prespa Forum.
He believes that the enlargement opposition exists, not for economic reasons, but for security reasons, and that Kosovo's non-recognition by Serbia is one of the obstacles to enlargement.
I cannot imagine for various political, social and historical reasons, for Serbia to recognise Kosovo. Until that is done, the issue will not be resolved”, Milanovic said.
“This is something we should focus on and send a message to Serbia to choose which side it wants”, Milanvic added, who believes Serbia has made the “decision to go on its path” and not towards membership in the European Union.
Prespa Forum “The lesson of the future of the Western Balkans in contemporary European security architecture” develops works from today until June 18th.
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, prime ministers of Northern Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, the presidents of Northern Macedonia and Montenegro, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Greece and Austria are also participating. /Telegraphy/
