The EU spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, rejected allegations that different standards apply to Spain and Catalonia than those applied to Serbia, in case of Kosovo, adding that the international law is universal and the EU fully respects it, Tanjug news agency reported.

“Kosovo is sui generis case,” she told Tanjug.

“As the European Council confirmed Kosovo is “a sui generis case” and as such can’t be compared with any other situation. There are no double standards. International law must be applied universally, and the EU fully respects it,” stated Kocijancic in a written response to Tanjug.

She avoided to directly respond to the question, what “political message” the EU sends to the candidate states, in particular to Serbia, with its attitude that “Spain is a member state (of the EU), and therefore “cases of Kosovo and Catalonia cannot be compared”.

She repeated the stance that Serbia and the Western Balkans have “clear European perspective,” confirmed by the European Council and the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker in his speech on the situation in the EU.

“We expect to welcome the Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic next week in Brussels, where we will continue our talks about the new steps of Serbia towards the EU,” Kocijanceva concluded, Tanjug news agency reported.