The newly elected chairman of the ‘Friends of Serbia’ informal group in the European Parliament (EP) Emilian Pavel believes that when it came to the recognition of Kosovo, Romania should align its position with that of other European Union members.

Assessing last week's statement of Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who said that Bucharest could recognize Kosovo, Pavel said that so far, Kosovo has received about 110 diplomatic recognition, including recognition of 23 out of 28 EU member states. “As a neighbour and a country that cares for peaceful and friendly relations with Serbia over many decades, my personal opinion is that Romania could not be among the first "wave" of countries that have recognized the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo. However, after the Brussels Agreement, reached in 2013 with the mediation of the European Union, Serbia and Kosovo have exchanged liaison officers and started normalization of relations. I believe that this is an important step that is in everyone's interest. Also, in 2013 the European Parliament voted for a resolution urging member states, including Romania, to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. As a European Union member state (and Serbia will also become one in the future) Romania needs to harmonize its position with the positions of other EU member states,” said Pavel, who is a Romanian MP of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP.

Speaking about Serbia’s European path, Pavel expressed the hope that the first chapter in the pre-accession talks with the EU would be opened as soon as possible. It is clear that Serbia is indeed on its European path and that the future of Serbia in the European Union is equally important to Serbia and to the EU, said Pavel.