Von der Leenen: Kosovo to establish association, Serbia to grant de facto recognition

European Commission Vice President (KE) Ursula von der Leyen, at a news conference after meeting with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, has said that Kosovo has made steady progress regarding reforms towards membership in the European Union (BE), which it has commended Kosovo authorities for.

She at the start of her address has condemned in the harshest terms the terrorist attack of Serb paramilitary people in the village of Bay in Zvecani with Serb majority-run municipality in northern Kosovo, until she has called for those responsible to be brought to justice. The EC chief has also called for continuing dialogue on normalising Kosovo-Serbia relations.

This attack is unacceptable and conflicts with European values”, the EC's first said at the media conference after meeting with President Osmani.

Von der Leyen has stressed that Kosovo should start implementing the agreement on establishing the Serb majority municipalities' association, while Serbia must recognise Kosovo's de facto citizenship, in line with the declaration of Germany, France and Italy at the weekend.