The Association/Community of Serb municipalities will be formed soon and will have no executive powers; it will be an institution for the provision of services to citizens, said yesterday European Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek in Pristina. She also said that now Pristina should meet as soon as possible the three main conditions for visa abolition with regard to the European Commission’s recommendation for visa liberalization for Kosovo.
Lunacek said that Kosovo this year has achieved great results on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration. Lunacek considered the admission to UEFA and FIFA, as well as the recommendations of the European Commission for the abolition of visas for citizens of Kosovo, as historical successes. At a press conference held in Pristina, Lunacek said that the ball is now in the courtyard of Kosovo and the Kosovo government should continue with the reforms.
“The implementation of the Brussels agreement is one of the conditions, so that Kosovo, as well as Serbia, continue their European path”, said Lunacek and stressed that “the Community of Serb municipalities should be formed soon, according to the agreement in Brussels and the decision of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo.”
“As far as the Statute of the Community, it has to be written and I think that the recommendations of the Constitutional Court clearly show what it can be and what it cannot be, and following up on it, the drafting of the Statute must be completed and it must be implemented. Fact is that in the Government and in the Assembly there was not enough support for it. The government said that the Prime Minister has signed this, but it still lacks implementation, as with any agreement. Likewise, on the Serbian side, there are things, such as Telecom and energy, that have not been resolved”, said Lunacek.
“When it comes to the abolition of visas for citizens of Kosovo, this will not happen so quickly”, said Ulrike Lunacek.
“It takes time to convince members of the European Union that the number of asylum seekers from Kosovo will be reduced, there must be visible results in the fight against corruption and the ratification of the border line with Montenegro in the Kosovo parliament, is necessary”, said Lunacek.
“I do not think it will be so soon, because the same process starts in the Council of Europe. The Council is the place where things are difficult, because some Member States, not just those that have not recognized Kosovo but in particular those who have had the highest number of asylum seekers from Kosovo last year, expect concrete results. That is why I appeal to all of you and the citizens of Kosovo, to please wait with the visa liberalization process, and if there are many people who seek asylum, it will have a negative impact on the process of visa liberalization”, said Lunacek.
At the end of the press conference Lunacek said that Kosovo will play in the World football championship in 2018.
