Austria with EU proposals: Kosovo to recognise from 5th, to advance application file for membership

Austria's Government for the EU and Constitution Minister Caroline Edtstadler has made a long response to its official profile, urging the EU to do much in keeping promises for the region. It has expressed Austria's official position that the European Union must take the lead in the Western Balkan region.

Edtstadler has said that membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina should be opened this year, while during 2024, says intergovernmental conferences with Albania and Northern Macedonia should be organised.

The Austrian minister has also sought to make real progress with Montenegro's membership ahead of the European Union internal elections.

At the point of its four proposal, Edstadler also mentioned Kosovo and the dialogue for normalisation with Serbia. Austrian politician has said progress must be made with Serbia's membership and with the advance application of Kosovo for membership also ahead of domestic elections, Express reports.

“Progress in talks on Serbia's membership and the processing of Kosovo's application for membership before the EU elections (related to further developments in normalisation talks between Serbia and Kosovo); if the EU wants leadership, the recognition of Kosovo by all member states is enabled”, said at the 4th point of the Austrian proposal.

Edtstadler has suggested that if the European Union wants to take the lead in the Western Balkans region, then Kosovo's independence should be recognised by all EU states.

I am fully convinced that the European family is not complete without our six partners in the Western Balkans. Let's show that Europe is capable of being a geopolitical actor at least at its gates no, in its yard”, the Austrian minister wrote.