Debate: Report on Kosovo
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2023
Speaker: Viola von Cramon-Taubadel
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

I was giving these speeches on Kosovo reports every year since 2019, hoping I can finally say ‘happy freedom of movement’. It is not a request or hope anymore; it’s a reality. As of January next year, Kosovo citizens will be able to travel across Europe without any visa requirement, invitation letters, costly procedure and queuing in lines. Europe is finally open its doors. Last year was a challenging one for everyone as we saw the horrors of war returning to Europe. Kosovo’s government, knowing well these horrors, demonstrated full solidarity with Ukraine by aligning with EU sanctions and even hosting Ukrainian journalists, for which I would like to deeply thank them. Our report only touches the surface of challenges and issues that are ahead of Kosovo. Yet it clearly underlines successes and what needs to be undertaken in the areas of democracy, fight against corruption, organised crime, energy and the environment. So, I will only outline three major processes: the rule of law, freedom of the media, EU—led dialogue and the energy transition. Kosovo keeps proving its democratic capacities by having a pluralistic political landscape, which is demonstrated on free and fair elections. The media landscape is diverse also compared to other states in the region, but still it is important that journalists remain independent. Significant results have been achieved in the areas of the fight against corruption and organised crime across Kosovo. Rule of law reforms need to be continued in line with the Venice Commission opinion and EU standards. Yet, the rule of law means equality for all. That’s why the international community has repeatedly asked the government of Kosovo to implement the Constitutional Court judgment regarding the Visoki Decani monastery. Dear colleagues from Kosovo, an essential element on Kosovo’s EU integration path is certainly the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which conditions the EU membership of both countries. The signing of the Brussels and Ohrid Agreements in March this year and the subsequent declaration on missing persons are excellent signals, but we expect the implementation of these previous agreements. It is particularly important to keep the dialogue at the highest level in order to secure that the situation in the north of Kosovo remains stable.  I ask the Kosovo Serbs to return to the institution and the government of Kosovo to offer an open hand and start a dialogue with its citizens in Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavić and Zvečan. Here, EULEX rules in the last month was the crucial guarantee for peace and security in the north. And we need EULEX reinforcement for the prevention and protection until the full return to institutions and police occurs. Finding a way to accommodate the dialogue obligation within Kosovo’s legal order will lead one big step closer to the end of the dialogue and finalisation of the process with mutual recognition. Finally, environmental protection must become a priority for Kosovo. Without the full integration of the Western Balkans in our green and energy transition plans, our CO2 goals won’t be accomplished. This must be a clear priority for the EU and that is why we have created the green agenda for the Western Balkans. Now we should work on the implementation of the long—awaited energy strategy, which should lead to the decarbonisation of Kosovo’s energy. I wish to see the fruits of our joint efforts in the future, since Kosovo’s citizens deserve to live in a country that enjoys full international respect and a clear European integration perspective. In that respect, I warmly welcome the start of the admission procedure to the Council of Europe.