European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday called the Kosovo government to immediately revoke the 100 percent tariffs imposed on goods from Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina, adding that Belgrade and Pristina have to implement all agreements reached in the EU-facilitated dialogue.
Political agreement in the Western Balkans should be rewarded, the European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn said on Monday and called on the bloc’s foreign ministers to start accession talks with North Macedonia, the FoNet news agency reported.
Hahn added the move would be an essential signal to the whole region.
Kosovo's progress report confirms its European perspective, but it also shows that there are no shortcuts on the way to the EU, said Nataliya Apostolova, Head of the EU office in Kosovo, adding a glass is half full, and that the continuation of the reforms requires a strong political will of the Assembly and Government.
The European Union countries consider a non-paper regarding the bloc's enlargement to include the Western Balkans as still a credible option, with 13 member states supporting the idea, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported on Thursday.
RFE had insight into the document which, among other things, said that EU should confirm its explicit dedication to the Western Balkans integration and that there was no "a plan B" for the region.
President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic says he is not angry, but disappointed, when speaking about the upcoming meeting with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and the mild reaction of the EU towards the ROSU incursion to Kosovo North, reports portal B92, quoting Belgrade based TV Prva.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the Speaker of the Russian Duma, lower house of the Federal Assembly, said in Belgrade on Monday that the “intrusion” of Kosovo’s special forces into the north aimed at frightening the Serbs, establishing control there by force, adding the Serbs could count on Russian help in future, N1 reported.
Volodin said that the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (on Kosovo after the 1989-1999 war there) should be respected.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Serbia would react in serious, responsible and decisive manner if a referendum on unification of Kosovo and Albania would happen, Tanjug news agency reported.
He made these remarks while asked to comment on the statement of Kosovo President Hashim Thaci who said earlier if the EU continues with the isolation of Kosovo, he would think of institutional measures and unification with Albania. Vucic added he has warned the EU about that.
Statement by Hashim Thaci that Community/Association of Serbian municipalities (ZSO) will not be formed is the best test for the authority of the European Union, said Aleksandar Vulin, Serbian Minister of Defense, reports KIM radio, quoting Belgrade based TV Pink.
According to Vulin, if this statement goes without sanctions, it will mean that the EU is leaving the Western Balkans both in diplomatic and security terms.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said today Prime Minister Ana Brnabic in her remark “people from the forest” was not referring to the entire Albanian people, but to the Kosovo leadership respectively Hashim Thaci, Ramush Haradinaj and Kadri Veseli, Danas daily reported.
“She did not speak about the entire population, but about the three of them. No, they are handsome guys, academics, painters and literates,” Vucic told journalists in Loznica, commenting on Kosovo Albanian leaders.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he is absolutely shocked over the fact EU did not react to the statement of Hashim Thaci that Pristina will not establish Association/Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities, Tanjug news agency reported.
“We have waited the EU for 24 hours to react. I am absolutely shocked that nobody said a word regarding the document signed in Brussels, whose implementation the EU has guaranteed. If these documents are not valid for the Albanians, I do not know whom they want to talk to in the future,” Vucic said.