Kosovo
The Council takes note of the Feasibility Study for a Stabilisation and Association
Agreement (SAA) between the EU and Kosovo, without prejudice to Member States'
positions on status. The Council notes that the Commission will propose negotiating
directives for a SAA once Kosovo meets the short term priorities concerning the rule of
law, public administration, protection of minorities and trade, which are identified in the
Feasibility Study. The Council calls on Kosovo to make further progress in these and a
number of other key areas, including cooperation with EULEX and the work of the
EULEX Special Investigative Task Force, to meet its obligations. In this regard, the
Structured Dialogue on the Rule of Law, the visa liberalisation dialogue and the
Stabilisation and Association Dialogue play an important role in guiding Kosovo's reform
efforts on these priority areas.
The Council, in particular, calls on Kosovo to accelerate the pace of reforms. Major efforts
are needed in particular to strengthen public administration reform and consolidate rule of
law, in particular by providing evidence of the fight against organised crime and
corruption, judicial reform and freedom of expression.
The Council underlines the importance for Kosovo to strengthen its close cooperation with
EULEX and respect the renewed mandate of the mission.
61. In line with the relevant Council conclusions, the Council recalls the European Union
willingness to assist the economic and political development of Kosovo through a clear
European perspective, in line with the European perspective of the region. It underlines the
need to take concrete steps to that effect. The Council welcomes the Commission's ongoing
efforts to negotiate a framework agreement with Kosovo concerning its participation in
Union programmes and its intention to come back to the Council in the first half of next
year, without prejudice to Member States' positions on status. The Council notes Kosovo's
membership of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the possibility
for the European Investment Bank to enhance its role in Kosovo.
It is essential that Kosovo continues implementing in good faith all agreements reached
between Belgrade and Pristina to date and that it engages constructively on the full range
of issues with the facilitation of the EU. A visible and sustainable improvement in relations
between Kosovo and Serbia is needed so that both can continue on their respective
European paths, while avoiding that either can block the other in these efforts. In this
context, this process should gradually result in the normalisation of relations between
Kosovo and Serbia with the prospect of both being able to fully exercise their rights and
fulfil their responsibilities.
The Council urges further progress on this point, including irreversible progress towards
delivering structures in northern Kosovo which meet the security and justice of the local
population in a transparent and cooperative manner, and in a way that ensures the
functionality of a single institutional and administrative set up within Kosovo, respecting
the particular needs of the local population. In this context, the Council calls on Kosovo to
further develop an outreach plan for northern Kosovo.
The Council calls on Kosovo to continue implementing in good faith all agreements
reached to date in the Dialogue and to engage constructively on the full range of issues.
The steps leading to the normalisation of relations between Pristina and Belgrade will also
be addressed in the context of the next steps on Kosovo's European path, in the interest of
having a comprehensive approach.
The Council commends PM Thaci and PM Dacic for their engagement in the EU
facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. It welcomes the first results and fully
supports the High Representative's engagement in this process. The Council is encouraged
by progress in the implementation of IBM, namely the completion of preparations for the
establishment of the co-located interim crossing points in two of the designated locations
and looks forward to two more interim crossing points being operational by the end of the
year. The Council additionally welcomes the decision to appoint liaison persons to be
located in offices provided by the EU Delegation in Belgrade and the EU Office in Pristina
who will follow all issues related to the normalisation of relations and will address all
everyday problems that may occur. The Council notes the importance of the agreement of
the two Prime Ministers to work together in order to ensure a transparent flow of money in
support of the Kosovo Serb community and looks forward to an early agreement on the
modalities for this. The Council expresses its satisfaction for the decision of the Kosovo
authorities to improve the protection of Religious and Cultural Heritage by the creation of
a special unit within the Kosovo Police that will be exclusively dedicated to this task.
The Council expects the two sides to continue and accelerate their work in addressing all
aspects of the relations between them.
With a view to a possible decision to open negotiations for a SAA with Kosovo, the
Council will examine on the basis of a report to be presented by the Commission and the
HR/VP in Spring 2013 progress on all the above issues. The Council will assess the report
during the next Presidency. Provided the assessment is positive the Council will adopt the
negotiating directives.
Krijoni Kontakt