Council conclusions on enlargement and stabilisation and association process (Brussels, 5 December 2011)
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
"ENLARGEMENT STRATEGY"
1. In line with the renewed consensus on enlargement approved by the European Council on 14 and 15 December 2006, and the Council conclusions of 14 December 2010, the Council welcomes the communication from the Commission of 12 October 2011 on the Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2011-2012, as well as the Opinion on Croatia's accession to the European Union, the Opinion on Serbia’s application for membership, and the progress reports “Turkey”, “Croatia”, “Iceland”, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, “Montenegro”, “Albania”, “Bosnia and Herzegovina” and “
Kosovo1”, and takes good note of the conclusions and recommendations therein.
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1 Under UNSCR 1244/99. The references to Kosovo in these conclusions are without prejudice to Member States’ positions on status.")
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WESTERN BALKANS
Kosovo
56. The Council welcomes Kosovo's commitment to its European agenda, including through sustained efforts in areas such as visa, trade and judicial system and the establishment of a council for EU Integration. It also welcomes the improved integration of Serbs south of the Iber/Ibar river. The Council notes that limited progress was achieved with the reform agenda in a year marked by elections. The Council urges Kosovo to take urgent steps to address the shortcomings identified in the electoral process and to substantially accelerate the pace of reform as well as to improve the budgetary situation in close cooperation with the IMF. Major efforts are needed in particular to strengthen public administration reform and consolidate rule of law, in particular by showing evidence of fight against organised crime and corruption, judicial reform and freedom of expression. It invites Kosovo to launch an inclusive and longterm agenda for northern Kosovo in close cooperation with the European Union and welcomes the Commission’s intention to offer its full support.
57. The Council encourages Kosovo to enhance its cooperation with EULEX and to ensure support for EULEX's work in all areas of its mandate.
58. The Council reaffirms that
Kosovo will also benefit from the perspective of eventual visa liberalisation once all conditions are met. The Council underlines that further progress in the area of justice, freedom and security is essential. Considering Kosovo's progress on readmission and reintegration and in line with Council conclusions of December 2010,
the Council welcomes the intention of the Commission to launch a visa dialogue, without prejudice to the Member States' positions on status, towards the end of the year, if all conditions are effectively fulfilled, to fully associate the Council and EU Member States to each step of the dialogue and to present regular reports on Kosovo's progress in adopting and implementing the appropriate reforms, including on the basis of Member States experts' reports on the ground.
59. The Council reiterates its full support for the Belgrade-Pristine Dialogue and welcomes progress to date, particularly on customs, acceptance of university diplomas, civil registry, free movement of persons, cadastre, and IBM. It calls on both parties to engage constructively on the full range of issues, tackling them at an early date and in a constructive spirit. The
Council calls for continued implementation of agreements reached to date in order to arrive at concrete results swiftly, effectively, and in a sustained manner. The Council underlines the importance of the Dialogue process for progress on inclusive regional cooperation, including trade. The Council recalls that the Dialogue, and agreements reached through the Dialogue, will continue to be of crucial importance for both parties as they take further steps towards fulfilling their EU perspective, and calls upon both parties to intensify their work in the coming period.
60. 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.
Without prejudice to Member States' positions on status, the Council invites the Commission to assess Kosovo's progress with regard to traderelated issues and to propose the way forward for an agreement as soon as sufficient progress has been made. The Council recognises that Kosovo's socio-economic development would also be enhanced through membership of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, without prejudice to Member States' positions on status.
61. The Council is committed to find an agreement on Kosovo's participation in EU programmes, without prejudice to Member States' positions on status. The Council welcomes the Commission's intention to launch a structured dialogue on the rule of law. It looks forward to the Commission's review of its 2009 Communication."
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