The Kosovare authorities have made the request for a candidate status, a long and complicated process by the fact that the independence of the country is not recognized by six member states.
MO12345LEMONDE WITH AFP
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, submitted, Thursday, December 15, to Prague the official request of his country of obtaining the status of candidate for membership of the European Union, thus formally launching a laborious process Complicated by conflicting relations between his country and Serbia. Albin Kurti gave the request to Mikulas Bek, Minister of Czech European Affairs, whose country provides the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU).
“It is a historic day for the people of Kosovo and a big day for democracy in Europe, said Mr. Kurti to the press. The letter of which I am holder contains the hopes and dreams of our citizens who have worked so hard to arrive to date. “
The document was signed on Wednesday by Mr. Kurti, the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, and the president of the Parliament, Glauk Konjufca. Kosovo is the last country of the Western Balkans to have applied for a future membership in the EU, which recognized, on Tuesday, the candidacy of Bosnia in the status of candidate.
“Modify the ‘State of mind of possible skeptics “
Possible recognition of the status of candidate of Kosovo would only be the beginning of a long process, complicated by the fact that the independence of the territory proclaimed by Pristina in 2008 is still not recognized by Belgrade. Five EU countries, Greece, Spain, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus, still do not recognize the independence of Kosovo. Serbia, as well as its allies Russia and China, still considers Kosovo as part of its territory. “I believe that with our determination and our good will we will also modify the state of mind of possible skeptics,” assured Mr. Kurti.
Normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia will be imperative for future European integration of the two countries. But despite attempts at dialogue under the aegis of the EU, relations between Pristina and Belgrade has been from crisis in crisis for years. Belgrade supports the Northern Kosovo Serbs who challenge the authorities of Pristina, this border region of Serbia has been theater in recent days of a climbing marked by shootings and explosions.
The EU recently reaffirmed at a summit in Tirana its attachment to the process of enlargement in favor of the Western Balkans while the war waged by Russia in Ukraine highlights the importance for Europeans to stabilize this fragile region . However, the effective membership of these countries remains a still distant perspective. Kosovo has already applied for membership in the Council of Europe.