European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said today in Pristina that there can be no security in Europe without Kosovo.
Kos made this statement after meeting with the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, at a joint press conference.
“There are several reasons why we say you are at a critical moment. The first is that you are before the elections and the second is that when we talked today about the enlargement process we spoke from a broader perspective.
“What we are experiencing today in the enlargement process is progress and for the first time since the last enlargement in 2013 with Croatia, there are real prospects for new member states in the coming years,” she said, reports Telegrafi.
Furthermore, the Commissioner for Enlargement said that this accession process is being postponed due to security-related issues.
“…And when we discussed Kosovo’s role in this, there can be no security in Europe without Kosovo. Kosovo is an integral part of a larger ‘mirror’. The reason why enlargement today is much more than just enlargement, it has to do with taking care of security in Europe, with being together, with the regional cooperation that you also mentioned…”, she said at the conference with Kurti, reports Telegrafi.
Further, the Commissioner for Enlargement spoke about Kosovo’s integration process, saying that it has a place in the EU.
“…Of course there is a place for Kosovo in the EU….The more successful Kosovo is in fulfilling reforms, the more successful it is in the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, the greater the chances that we will be able to start negotiations, this is political,” Kos said.
She stressed that she will work tirelessly to bring Kosovo closer to the EU. “We cannot imagine a Europe without Kosovo in it,” she said.
Kos also mentioned the importance of forming stable and functional institutions.
“2026 is a year to find and open opportunities for Kosovo… After the elections, I will return and we will still discuss important topics for Kosovo and the EU,” she said, emphasizing the importance of breaking the political deadlock.
According to her, many reforms have stagnated due to repeated elections.
Kos further spoke about the Growth Plan, financial assistance from the EU, etc. /Telegrafi/
