EU: conditions still under way for lifting measures on Kosovo

In a debate held on the European Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee, Marko Macovec, director for the Balkans in the Foreign Service, has indicated that the situation in northern Kosovo is not improving and tensions, according to him are continuing to accumulate.

The European Union is ready to gradually free the measures, but all member states must be very convinced. And if you follow the conditions and what is happening in northern Kosovo, the security situation has not significantly improved”, Macovec said.

He estimated that last year he was with mixed developments in the process of normalising reports between Kosovo and Serbia. He cited escalation of violence in May in the north, and the September 24th attack on Banjska, public television reports

“The normalisation of relations with Kosovo through the rapid implementation of all EU facilitated dialogue commitments, including the agreement on normalisation and implementation of the annex, remains who is clear. This comes with responsibility for regional stability, where responsibility for the attacks on September 24th remains extremely important”, the director for the Western Balkans ordered in the Foreign Service.

Serbia, he named it an important state in the region both on issues of stability and instability.

Also, he reiterated the necessity of this state adapting to EU foreign policy in terms of sanctions against Russia and confirmed that this issue has implications for Serbia's EU integration process.

Macovec has underlined that Serbia is continuing close co-operation with Russia and has regular meetings with Moscow officials.