Kosovo measures expected to be gradually removed, European Commission says

Punishment measures against Kosovo will be gradually removed.

This was confirmed in a media response from the European Commission.

From the EC's Press Office, it is stressed that it is working towards gradual, conditional and returnable removal of the measures.

It is also confirmed that this phase has preceded an exchange of positions among EU member states during the foreign ministers' meeting in April.

As unofficially noted, the launch of gradual removal, at the moment, is more symbolic than substanial.

The European Union has unblocked the functioning of subcommittee with Kosovo and has resumed technical assistance from the Investment Fund for the Western Balkans.

According to some diplomatic sources in Brussels, this is the maximum the EU can currently offer, as full removal of the measures requires unanimous reconciliation of all member states.

For such a consensus, clear actions by Kosovo authorities are said to be needed, in line with the December conclusions, where it was stressed that the gradual removal of the measures would take place in parallel with Kosovo authorities' concrete steps towards lowering tensions in the country's north. /Periscope/