Czech Ambassador: Our country focuses on Kosovo- Serbia

The Czech Republic during the chairmanship of the Council of the European Union presidency will continue to support Kosovo in the process of European integration. So said Czech Ambassador to Kosovo Pavel Bilek.

At the table organised by the Council of Investors in Europe, on the topic of “The Czech presidency of the EU 2022 and the Western Balkans”, Ambassador Bilek said his state would support the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, saying the future of these states is in Europe.

He has said the war in Ukraine has left major consequences in Europe, while demanding that the EU be involved in dialogue with Western Balkan states.

“3 weeks ago, Chechia took over the EU presidency at a time of crisis in Europe. We have a priority EU security that has to do with human rights. So do the war in Ukraine and its consequences. The Western Balkans are a priority and will support dialogue between the European Union and the Western Balkans. There will be focus on dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia because their future is in Europe and is on the agenda of the Czech republic. Chechia will focus on strengthening security, fighting cyber crime, economic development and the period following the subject”, Bilek said.

EU office chief Thomas Szunyog expressed confidence in Czech support in Kosovo's priorities.

I believe Czech policy is linked to EU policies, where even in Kosovo we see two priorities that have the same focus energy security. The EU office will co-operate in realising conferences to be held in terms of energy security and sustainable development”, he said.

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi spoke of the successes the Government of Kosovo has made him. He said that in the fight against corruption, a good image has been changed for Kosovo.

“In fighting corruption we have completely changed Kosovo's image not only in the region but even wider. Establishment in 17 countries at “Transparency International”, and recently the European Parliament Report has welcomed intensifying efforts to fight corruption and organised crime. And in the migration field, the legislative framework needed for migration management. We have signed 26 readmission agreements with 22 EU member states. All of this has caused Kosovo to have the smallest number in the region of asylum seekers after Montenegro. Migrating today in Kosovo is not illegal and has nothing to do with visa liberalisation”, Bislim said.

Bislimi said there is no more illegal migration in Kosovo, as citizens leave with working visas or with family reunions.

The “Migration that occurs today in Kosovo is largely legal -- that is, for working visas, family reunions or studies. As for the second critical issue for the state of Kosovo in this presidency, it is the application for membership in the European Union. About that, it is good to point out some reasons why Kosovo will apply. 1. The European perspective since the 2003 Thessaloniki Summit Kosovo has been promised European perspective”.

The next “Vin is 20 years old from the Thessaloniki Summit, and Kosovo remains the only country in the Western Balkans that has not yet applied for membership. The European perspective does not mean only SAA agreements, nor visa guides, pre-membership European perspective funds should translate into prospects for full EU membership, and our application is efforts to concreteise our European perspective, for which we have over 90% support from the broad population and consensus of political parties”, Bislimi said.

Finally, the executive director of the Council of Investors in Europe congratulated the Czech Republic on assuming the presidency of the European Union, while also reading the programme of this state that it said is promising to co-operate especially with Kosovo businesses.