Balkans | The Foreign Policy Committee of the European Parliament approves the Kosovo report

The Foreign Policy Committee of the European Parliament today endorsed the report on Kosovo and the amendments submitted by MPs to it.

The report on Kosovo was adopted by 44 votes in favour, 8 against, with 3 abstentions.

The draft report was submitted by the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Kosovo, Viola von Kramon Topadil, while lawmakers introduced more than 300 amendments.

While the report contains general points similar to previous years’ reports, it also takes into account developments that occurred in between. The report welcomes Kosovo’s application to join the European Union.

The call for recognition of Kosovo’s independence by all EU member states, which the European Parliament repeats every year in its reports on Kosovo, is included in the text this time.

At this very point, several amendments have been made to exclude references to Kosovo’s nationality from the report, especially by MPs from Spain and other countries that do not recognize Kosovo.

The report stated that Kosovo did not witness a period of political stability after the 2021 elections, and drew attention to the negative impact of the climate of political polarization on the work of the association.

The report welcomed the commitment to fight corruption and organized crime and criticized interference in the judiciary.

The report states that there is a pluralistic media environment regarding freedom of expression in Kosovo.

Regarding the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels, the report reiterated the two countries’ call to reach a comprehensive, legally binding agreement on mutual recognition in accordance with international law to normalize relations.

Likewise, there is a call for the implementation of all agreements reached so far in the dialogue, including the creation of the Federation of Serb-majority municipalities.

Kosovaport