Ambassadors want dynamics in dialogue, Bislim tells them: Remove the masses

The European Commission's report for 2022 was a topic of discussion between the Commission for European Integration with German Ambassador Jorn Rohde and the chief of the EU Office in Kosovo, Thomas Szynog. There was no shortage of criticism at the address of the European Union.

Those present said that non-compliance of candidate status for Kosovo is unfair. German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde spoke of the lack of co-operation in office and opposition, with whom he said that as a cause of the International Agreements' failure, Kosovo loses 400m euros.

Rohde has called on Kosovo to make further efforts to implement the agreements reached with Serbia, adding that it has been committed “to the EU facilitated dialogue”.

According to him, it is important to reach a moment in talks with Serbia”. Rohde has said challenging for Kosovo remains fighting corruption, reform of public administration and rule of law, the EO reports.

Germany has offered great assistance to the state of Kosovo in achieving reforms. Kosovo has remained committed to the EU facilitated dialogue, but efforts are still needed to implement the agreements reached”.

The report on Kosovo should be seen to remind all of us which reforms should be made for Kosovo to advance in its goal of becoming an EU member. Reforms should be done not only by the Government, but also by the Parliament”, he has said.

The “that we are here today want to express disappointment over the lack of co-operation with political parties and the lack of international agreements, where more than 400m euros could be provided. The Kosovo report should be used to understand all of us which reforms must be made in order for Kosovo to be part of the EU”.

Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi said the European Union needs “as soon as” removes sanctions measures against Kosovo, adding that these have influenced the progress report assessment.

He has added that Kosovo has not only opened negotiations for membership in the European Union, but neither has the status of candidate country nor has it received the EU questionnaire.

The “for this status does not need to be recognised by the five non-recognising countries... The entries in the application treatment are adding skeptical voices. The EU's negative measures are still in force, and we believe that the presence of these measures has influenced the assessment made in the report. Measures that are still in force conflict with the region's EU integration bid. It is very important that the EU remove these measures as soon as possible”, Bislimi said.

According to the deputy prime minister, Kosovo has scored success in the field of internal market approach.

“We have growth in budget revenues, successful formalisation of the economy and jobs. We have a significant decrease in the level of public debt, we have increased new businesses, we have the financial sector against the crises we face, we have improvement in the free movement of service and capital goods. But there are also areas in which the assessment in the Progress Report is not in line with Government obedience. It has to do with public administration reform”, he has indicated.

The report addresses the final report that citizens can move freely on January 1st and I think the government has made the necessary announcement on the liberalisation process. The enlargement package highlights receiving status for Ukraine and Moldova, and we consider it important towards accelerating the European Union enlargement, and in this case Kosovo has not yet received candidate status. There's no need for recognition from non-recognitional countries.

Commission for European Integration head Rzazarta Krasniqi said it is very difficult to understand why Bosnia deserves candidate status, but not our country.

“Anyway, at the same time we should be aware that our country remains the last country in the integration process of the ten countries aspiring to EU membership. This month, the European Commission proposes launching negotiations with Ukraine, Moldova and Bosnia. The Commission also recommended granting candidate country Georgia status. Thus the distance between Kosovo and nine other countries is only deepening”.

“As long as we certainly enjoy the recommendation to start membership negotiations with Bosnia, it is very difficult for Kosovo citizens to understand why Bosnia deserves candidate status or even open membership negotiations, but not our country. According to the European Commission's own assessment, Kosovo is better prepared to take over obligations stemming from EU membership than Bosnia. In this regard the European Commission's annual report has offered us clear guidance on where we should double the efforts to advance European reforms”, Krasniqi said, as he quoted some found by this report.

The report underlines that no progress has been noted and that last year's recommendations have not been met satisfactorily. In the area of rule of law it has become limited progress, while in the field of fighting corruption, the report proves that corruption remains a matter of concern. Also, under 31 chapters of EU legislation this year, Kosovo has had a record of chapters that have been assessed with limited progress”.