Dragisa Mijacic, coordinator of the National Convention on the European Union (EU) for Chapter 35, has said it is unrealistic to expect Kosovo to obtain EU candidate status by the end of this year, despite Prime Minister Albin Kurti's calls for the bloc to grant Kosovo candidate status and open accession negotiations. However, he did not rule out the possibility of an unexpected development.
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"The consideration of Kosovo's application for EU candidate status does not depend on Kurti's statements, but primarily on the obligations undertaken by the Kosovo government under agreements reached through the normalisation dialogue, particularly the implementation of the 2013 Brussels Agreement and the 2023 Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Ohrid Annex," Mijacic told the Serbian daily Danas.
Mijacic said additional conditions include issues related to the rule of law, particularly respect for the constitutional rights and protections of the Serbian community in Kosovo.
He also pointed to questions surrounding amendments to the Law on Specialist Chambers in The Hague, recently adopted by the Kosovo Assembly.
According to Mijacic, further clarity is expected in early November, when the European Commission is scheduled to publish its progress report on Kosovo's path towards EU integration.
He stressed that a positive position from EU member states that do not recognise Kosovo's independence would also be necessary.
"Taking all of this into account, it is not realistic to expect Kosovo to obtain candidate status at the European Council meeting in the second half of December, although surprises are always possible," Mijacic concluded.
Teme