With five European Union member states currently not recognizing Kosovo and with leading figures of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue coming from non-recognizing countries, questions arise if the European Union can seriously lead this process.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Alice Taylor for \u201cInside Albania\u201d, British Conservative Party politician and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in the British House of Commons, Alicia Kearns said so:<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there is a fundamental challenge around the fact that the EU does not have unity on this issue [recognition of Kosovo]. I think EU member states would appreciate and recognize the fact that there is no unity amongst the EU around this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Considering the fact that Josep Borrell (High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) comes from Spain, a non-recognizer; Miroslav Laj\u010d\u00e1k (EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues) comes from Slovakia, another non-recognizer; Oliv\u00e9r V\u00e1rhelyi (European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement) comes from Hungary, a recognizer country of Kosovo but with close ties to Serbia and Russia, MP Kearns is of the opinion that these are professionals who can draw the line between their countries\u2019 foreign policies and the EU stance on Kosovo\u2019s independence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to individuals, I do believe that these are professional and highly experienced diplomats. So, I genuinely believe and I have to believe that they would act in the best interest of stability in Europe, and not in line with those local policies of their own countries. But of course, I\u2019m disappointed that when they were leading figures within their own systems, they chose not to help ensure that Kosovo was recognized. This is about the EU being divided as an institution is not about the individuals themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n