9 minutes agoWhat awaits Kosovo after EU punitive measures?
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)Unfair according to Kosovo institutions, harmful according to experts. Thus comment on the punitive measures the European Union pronounced to Kosovo, due to, as it was said, the non-recognition of the situation in the country's north. In this predominantly Serb area, tensions have been high since the end of May, when [...]
Thus comment on the punitive measures the European Union pronounced to Kosovo, due to, as it was said, the non-recognition of the situation in the country's north.
In this predominantly Serb area, tensions are high since the end of May, when Albanian mayors entered their offices despite the resistance of local Serb residents.
Their protests escalated even in violent clashes, with dozens injured, including soldiers of the NATO mission, KFOR.
Despite the international community's calls for Kosovo to withdraw Albanian mayors and organise new elections, steps in this direction still do not.
In response, the EU temporarily suspended the work of all working groups for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (MSA) which is the first step towards membership in the bloc, as well as invitations to Kosovo's participation in high-level meetings.
The EU suspended, too, the programming of funds for Kosovo, including those from the IPA (Pro-EU Membership Institutions) and the Western Balkans' Investment Frame.
Risks From Paradition of Measures
Demush Shasha, from the Kosovo Institute for European Policy, says EU measures can gradually escalate if the Kosovo government does not change its stance.
“Today, we have measures that suspend funds, not cancel them. The next rate will be the annulment of the funds”, Shasha says.
Because we are a developing economy, a still fragic economy in many ways, I judge that they [condemnative measures] will greatly harm Kosovo”, says Emrush Ujkan, executive director of the Council of European Investors in Kosovo.
From IPA funds aimed at helping countries in the EU membership process in implementing reforms, Kosovo has begun to benefit tools since 2007. From that time until 2022, the country has won 1.21 billion euros in total.
Kosovo, by 2009, is also supported by the Western Balkan Investment Frame, which is a joint initiative of the EU, financial institutions and donors, aimed at developing socio-economic and European perspective of Western Balkan countries.
A document of this mechanization is said to have supported 30 projects worth 1.8 billion euros in Kosovo by September 2021.
The projects include building roads, rehabilitation of railways, central heating systems and improving the sewage system.
How did the government comment on punitive measures?
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who repeatedly insists that “cannot compromise the country's constitutionality”, said EU punitive measures are the unfair “”.
He showed hope that they will be short term, as Kosovo said, “is a country that needs support in its development”.
The “is true that they are temporary but unfair measures, because Kosovo and its government are both the state and the most democratic, pro-European executive and progressive”, Kurti said at the weekend.
What about the integration process?
Kosovo has applied for membership in the European Union at the end of 2022.
Compared to other Western Balkan countries, it is the last on the road to the EU. So far, only a contractual agreement with the bloc is signed, respectively.
Blerta Deliu, a member of the Commission for European Integration in the Kosovo Assembly, confirms that two meetings -- the first to be held under the SAA in Brussels -- have already been cancelled.
According to her, it is the EU-Kosovo Undercommittee meeting for justice, freedom and security, as well as the Subcommittee for Trade, Industry, Customs and Tax.
Kosovo's non-participation in such forums does not contribute to our agenda strengthening mechanisms that bring Kosovo together with the European Union. Instead, it undermines Kosovo in empowerment, on its Euro-Atlantic and Western path”, Deliu, who comes from the opposition ranks, says.
Shasha says a political meeting will also be cancelled, that of the SAA Council, respectively, where, according to him, Kosovo's foreign minister and prime minister participate, while from the EU foreign policy representative participates.
If common language is not found, Shasha says, the EU can take even more depressing measures.
What can I do? It could have the suspension of certain MSA parts. Like. to stop the entry of Kosovo products that have the right to enter the EU without charge, thanks to the SAA... such as wood products, metal, textile...”, says Shasha.
He adds that any EU hopeful measures towards Kosovo undermine the country's international credibility.
The EU's plan to enforce the situation in northern Kosovo includes: the withdrawal of Kosovo's special police units from municipal buildings in the north, the displacement of mayors from municipal facilities that are also exploited by Serb parallel structures to alternative buildings, the announcement of early elections in the north, and the launch of judicial procedures against demonstrators attacking KFOR troops.
For ignoring demands for lowering tensions, the US has also taken punitive measures against Kosovo, excluding it from a major international exercise known as “Defeder Europe 2023”.
Kurti reiterated Monday that punitive measures -- “for my powerful conviction -- are unfair”. / REL
