Swedish presidency has started consultations on Kosovo's EU membership application

Swedish Ambassador to the EU Lars Danielson, who has personally started these consultations in the quality of the rotating EU chairman, has said in Brussels.

Danielson has said this at a meeting of accredited journalists in Brussels who have been given the priorities Sweden will have during its chairmanship with the EU Council.

We are consulting with many states to see how we decide about this requirement. We have five countries that do not recognise Kosovo and it is natural that we consult with them first. With some I've already met and we're continuing our” meetings, he said.

Sweden's permanent representative to the EU has said the decision on how to deal with Kosovo's application for EU membership is procedural, but also political.

The “is a procedural decision, but it has great political significance. I don't want to prejudge the results of the consultations, but once I see that consensus is being built among member states on how to act, I will announce member states. We have two options: We carry it to the Commission or not to carry it to the Commission. But we're working very willingly on this” file Ambassador Lars Danielson said.

According to EU procedures after a state applies for membership, the Council urges the European Commission to compile the thought that it or not meets the conditions for candidate status and for launching membership negotiations.

Kosovo had submitted formal application for EU membership on December 15th.

The then Czech presidency has not had time to examine that requirement, but has only informed member states of its surrender. Now that file in his hands is the Swedish presidency, which is consulting how to decide.

After Sweden the rotating EU presidency has Spain, a member country that has not recognised Kosovo's independence. / REL/