Austrian Eurodeput: EU appoints worthy, impartial people in the process of dialogue

He emphasises that only in this form can dialogue succeed and parties implement the Brussels Base Agreement and the Ohrid annex.

In terms of that, Mandl says the South Tyrol model is a good example for the Association, which Kosovo can take into account, until it underlines that the same sė should have executive competence.

He also criticises Serbia for its behaviour and aggressive approach to Kosovo. Meanwhile, it underlines the need for the European Union to drop punitive measures against Kosovo as soon as possible.

Mandl for Kosova Prees stresses the need for Kosovo and Serbia to have constructive approaches within the Brussels dialogue.

The “should be a real dialogue between the two countries and should be seen as two countries speaking to each other, not capitals, so I use the expression of Kosovo dialogue- Serbia does not mention capitals to stress that these are two countries under equal conditions.

We still have five EU member states that have not yet recognised the Republic of Kosovo, which is unfortunate. I have written to the prime ministers of each of these five countries immediately after the start of the fight of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, but in means and hybrid measures against all of us, to recommend that now be known the Republic of Kosovo, the unification of the free world, for joining the Western world to contribute to the unification of Europe as a whole, all of this will be a very good prerequisite for a positive future of the Western Balkans, namely a positive future for Europe.

What is needed immediately and virtually are people on the part of the European Commission, who will moderate this process of dialogue in a decent and impartial manner and also without taking any sides, this will be something I trust the new European Commission to do better than the last one when it comes to dialogue”, he points out.

The Austrian Eurodeput emphasises that Kosovo must meet its responsibilities in terms of association, but the same must have executive competencies.

Of course, I mean when something's agreed, it has to be implemented. So there has been one side in the dialogue, which has always played a step forward and two steps back, and this should not happen again, or there must be clear consequences if this is going to happen again.

At the same time, of course, there is also part of international agreements that will have a kind of association of northern municipalities, which does not mean any kind of jurisdiction. The northern municipalities will remain part of the Republic of Kosovo, citizens of these municipalities will remain citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, of no other state, but must have any subject representing these municipalities. We have a similar example in Austria, in my country, along with Italy in history, which is the South Tyrol, and if someone wants to look deeper at that example, it could be a good model for the future here”, Mandl adds.

It also requires clear consequences for Serbia unless they implement the Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid annex.

The “should have clear consequences for the Serbian government if they agree on something in the future and then do not implement it and play other games as the games have played in the past, always to provoke Kosovo and always contact a campaign against Kosovo when it comes to recognitions worldwide.

This kind of behavior has to stop, this is not the way you deal with your neighbor, it's not the way that you will create prosperity and opportunity throughout the Western Balkans, Serbia has to do co-operative behavior and contribute to the economy throughout the Western Balkans in the interest of its people, the Serbian people, and the interest of all, better do so than always act aggressively towards the neighbouring state”, he points out.

On the other hand, Mandl considers the removal of punitive measures against Kosovo necessary.

“I hope that so-called measures will be removed as soon as possible, since not just in my view. I am not alone in the European Parliament with this clear attitude for these measures to create a positive atmosphere for talks, positive in the future, for opportunities for the people of Kosovo and the people throughout Europe, and for the positive road forward to European unity, the measures are absolutely nothing that will help that road, quite the opposite, so the measures must be removed”, Mandl adds.

Asked about preparations for organising the February 9th elections in Kosovo, he says that unlike other Western Balkan countries, Kosovo is a functioning democratic system.

Well, I don't want to interfere here because I'm aware of the February 9th election day. I know that from the past compared with other Western Balkan countries, in all analysis of election monitoring missions it is said that Kosovo is a functioning democratic system, this will be true even in February, I hope in positive competition and still have no knowledge of intervention here”, Mandl concludes.