European Union ministers are discussing the enlargement package of the European bloc on Tuesday in the General Affairs Council meeting.<\/p>\n
The adoption of conclusions is expected during this meeting, although there have been warnings that they may not pass, as Hungary has announced that it will block them with a veto.<\/p>\n
However, the latest versions of the draft conclusions have removed recommendations for the start of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, leaving it to the European Council, which meets on Thursday and Friday, to decide on such a step.<\/p>\n
Hungary has requested that the decision regarding Ukraine be completely removed from the agenda since there is no consensus among member states, although the other 26 member states are ready to make such a decision.<\/p>\n
In the prepared conclusions for the General Affairs Council meeting, the EU will reiterate its commitment to enlargement as a crucial geostrategic process for strengthening peace in Europe.<\/p>\n
It will invite all countries involved in this process to continue the necessary reform process to progress, with a particular focus on the rule of law.<\/p>\n
Regarding Kosovo, the EU Council will urge Kosovo to do more in the field of the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organized crime, while welcoming the entry into force of visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens, starting from January 1 of next year.<\/p>\n
The majority of the conclusions related to Kosovo address the security situation in the north and the dialogue with Serbia.<\/p>\n
These messages are also present in the conclusions regarding Serbia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Council is deeply concerned about the situation in the north of Kosovo, including security. Some biased actions by Kosovo and Serbia, as well as the collective resignation of Kosovo Serbs from institutions and the boycott of local elections in north Kosovo, have further increased tensions,\u201d the text states.<\/p>\n
The Council will strongly condemn the \u201cviolent attacks by Serbian protesters in Kosovo against KFOR troops, law enforcement, and the media on May 29, 2023. New elections in north Kosovo should be held as soon as possible, and Kosovo Serbs should participate without any conditions. Kosovo Serbs should also return to the institutions from which they have withdrawn. This should be facilitated by Kosovo and encouraged by Serbia,\u201d the draft says.<\/p>\n
Regarding the measures that the EU has imposed on Kosovo, justified by the \u201clack of steps taken to ease the situation in the north\u201d, it expresses readiness to lift those measures if there is progress in meeting the requirements.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Council welcomes the steps taken towards the implementation of some of the EU\u2019s demands. The Council recalls that the EU remains ready to lift the measures in case of further progress in meeting the existing requirements,\u201d the text states.<\/p>\n
The Council, through these conclusions, will reiterate that there is no justification for violence and will condemn attacks on the Kosovo Police in Banjska on September 24.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Council emphasizes the improvement of cooperation between the Kosovo Police and EULEX regarding this attack. The Council welcomes the strengthening of KFOR\u2019s presence, especially at the border\/administrative line between Kosovo and Serbia,\u201d the text says, calling on both Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from provocative rhetoric.<\/p>\n
The EU can take measures against both Kosovo and Serbia if they do not refrain from escalating tensions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Council expects Kosovo and Serbia to find a sustainable solution to the situation in north Kosovo, which would guarantee security and representative democracy for all citizens,\u201d the text says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Council calls on Kosovo to engage in the dialogue facilitated by the EU, with good will and in the spirit of compromise to reach a comprehensive, legally binding agreement with Kosovo for the normalization of relations, in accordance with international law and EU laws, without further delay. This agreement should address all key outstanding issues and thus contribute to the stability of the region,\u201d the document says, reminding that both parties will jeopardize their European journey if they do not take advantage of this opportunity.<\/p>\n
The Council will express regret for the lack of implementation by both parties of the Agreement and its annex for its implementation, as well as other issues reached in the dialogue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ask Kosovo to implement them in full and without further delay. This includes the establishment of the Association of Serb majority Municipalities. The Council welcomes the readiness of Kosovo and Serbia to accept the draft presented by the EU facilitator, meaning that further work should be done based on it,\u201d the text says.<\/p>\n
The Council will invite the EU Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Laj\u010d\u00e1k, to complete the agenda for the next meeting of the Special Group for Normalization, to take into account Kosovo\u2019s obligations arising from the Agreement and its annex.<\/p>\n
Kosovo will be urgently invited, in a constructive manner, to engage in regional cooperation activities and to respect the obligations of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and the Stabilization and Association Agreement, including by lifting the decision to ban imports from Serbia.<\/p>\n
The EU Council will welcome Kosovo\u2019s clear geostrategic orientation, demonstrated by its strong condemnation of Russia\u2019s aggression against Ukraine and its voluntary alignment of its foreign policy positions with those of the European Union.<\/p>\n
The draft conclusions also contain a call for the European Commission and the High Representative, as soon as possible, but no later than January 2024, to propose an amendment to Serbia\u2019s negotiating framework criteria to include the implementation of the Agreement on the road to normalization as a condition.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the inclusion of the obligation to normalize relations with Kosovo in the framework of accession negotiations to the EU has been mentioned by senior EU officials as a way for the agreement reached in Brussels on February 27 and the implementation annex in Ohrid to become, as they say in the EU, \u201clegally binding\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, so far, the negotiating framework has not been formally changed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
European Union ministers are discussing the enlargement package of the European bloc on Tuesday in the General Affairs Council meeting. The adoption of conclusions is expected during this meeting, although there have been warnings that they may not pass, as Hungary has announced that it will block them with a veto. However, the latest versions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":61992,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[165,163],"tags":[1281,308,300,150,243,151,301],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n