Mandl: Nobody allows Serbia's EU entry without recognising Kosovo, South Tyrol, solution for Serbs

Fear increased in Kosovo that through this agreement, Serbia is being allowed entry into the European Union without recognising Kosovo.

LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku, in addition to numerous criticisms of the agreement, had declared in the Kosovo Parliament that Prime Minister Kurti opened Serbia's way to the EU, removing the condition to recognise Kosovo.

The evental failure will inspire our country as a penalty, while we have opened the way for free normalisation within chapter 35”, Obadiah had said.

The Austrian Eurodeput, Lucas Mandl, has been talking about these provisions of the Agreement for the Journal Express, which demonstrated full conviction that Sėka EU leader who allows Serbia's entry into the Union without knowing her neighbour.

Kosovo's “path towards the EU and international organisations, including the UN, will be opened politically. He wants real leadership. The same applies to Serbia's path to the EU. No real leader at any level will allow Serbia to become an EU member without recognising Kosovo. And Serbia officially has no power to block Kosovo from becoming a UN member state”. Mandl says only the lack of leadership is still the reason why Kosovo has not yet become a member of the UN and the Council of Europe. “

On the issue of association, the Austrian Eurodeput says a solution that has been found between his country and Italy should be taken for model.

My recommendation is to take as an example South Tyrol and whether it is necessary to adapt it to the situation between Kosovo and Serbia. In history it was very difficult. But today no one doubts that South Tyrol is part of Italy, and at the same time Austria plays a unique role for South Tirol. And South Tirol population has its rights, for example, regarding language. And at the same time it is fully under Italian and European jurisdiction and jurisdiction”.

Mandl has commented on the recent agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, which he said is seeing as evidence that when the EU engages it could bring about change.

I appreciate the EU leadership's statements in co-ordinating this [agreement]. I rated the plan as informally called the Franco-German proposal. I think the roles of Borrell, Vahely and Lajcak are very difficult, because Vuciq has been reluctant to contribute to any progress. Vuciq himself said publicly he would move because of EU pressure. This is better evidence that the EU can make a better difference for all six Western Balkan countries”.

Can the parties clear the obligations made by this agreement for the fact that it has not been signed?

“This isn't a “click”, it's a long process that we all need to follow: I hope deeply in the recognition of Kosovo from Serbia. This will pave the way for Serbia's youth and the entire region for a better future. Because then things may fall into place as recognition of the long-delayed five non-recognition states as membership of the Republic of Kosovo in many international organisations and much more”.

Mandl also commented on the contradiction of Serbian presidential statements, which he said did not sign the agreement because it would be legally binding. Until on the other hand he publicly declared in Ohrid that “we have an agreement”.

The main question is: Does Vuchic want to become a real leader? Will one day be remembered as a true contributor to the freedom, peace and prosperity of Serbia and the entire region? It is up to him to decide to behave with maturity and vision”.

In the question of statements by political commentators who say the Ohrid Agreement is already failed because it has not regulated anything in Kosovo's north, Mandl decided to answer the benefits Kosovo and Serbia citizens may have with the accession and implementation of this agreement.

On one side, I would say that Prime Minister Albin Kurti took the dialogue seriously. Opposition parties in Kosovo have also decided not to make issues of conflict in domestic politics. This shows the maturity of Kosovo's political system and the strengthening of Kosovo's position in dialogue. And both the past government and Kosovo's current government have presented the world with a responsible approach. On the other hand: Like everyone, Serbs deserve a real leadership for their country and future. Then Serbia will not only become an EU member state, but also the region's main economy, economic engine. This will benefit Serbia and the entire region in terms of prosperity and prospects for young people. So I would focus here on the broader picture and not on the only” statements.

Eurodeputeti pledged it would lobby for Kosovo membership in the international institutions it aims at.

I continue to search using my “parliamentary instruments.