The Council of the European Union today approved the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Kosovo and the European Union.  The approval of the SAA opens way for the signing of the SAA on 27 October in Strasbourg.  The SAA foresees the establishment of contractual relations between Kosovo and the EU and represents the first formal step towards the full membership in the EU. Kosovo European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, said that the approval of the SAA by the EU Council is a historic moment for Kosovo.

The European Union Commissioner Johannes Hahn met today with Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration Bekim Collaku. Commenting on the recent developments in Kosovo, Hahn said it was normal for people to have disagreements but that it is categorically unacceptable to express disagreements through violence. “This is unacceptable in democracy. It is completely normal and fair to have different opinions, but not to practice violence. Such methods belong to the past,” he said.

Kosovo’s European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, said today that Kosovo has met all the visa liberalization criteria and that it expects the European Union to recommend the visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens and to sign the Stabilization/Association Agreement. Collaku made these remarks after meeting the French Ambassador to Kosovo Maryse Daviet. Collaku and Daviet discussed Kosovo’s request to become a member of the UNESCO, and Daviet reconfirmed France’s support in this respect.

The European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, today signed a financial agreement between Kosovo and the EU on the next Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) program, consisting of €66 million. The European Commission director for Western Balkans, Jean Eric Paquet signed the agreement on behalf of the EU. Collaku said that the IPA annual program will support the sectors of rule of law, fundamental human rights, energy, innovation, agriculture and rural development.

The first meeting of the National Council for Investment, which was set up a few days ago by the government, is expected to be held in late July. This Council will manage the process of financing of infrastructure projects in Kosovo. This was announced by the Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku. According to him, this body aims to ensure synergy between the different sources of funding, namely the budget, loans and grants. He stressed that the EU has allocated 1 billion euros to finance infrastructure projects.

Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku, submitted today the last comprehensive report of the Kosovo institutions on meeting the criteria for visa liberalization. Collaku submitted the report to the EU Special Representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, to forward it to the European Commission. Collaku said that the comprehensive report that Kosovo submitted to the EU will serve as a solid foundation to successfully conclude this very important process. “We need to continue with strict implementation of legislation covered in the guide.

Kosovo on Thursday hosted for the first time the regional meeting of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). In the framework of IPA funds for the year 2016 were allocated € 390 million. The meeting is being attended by all the Western Balkans countries, Turkey, representatives of the Regional Cooperation Council and representatives from the European Commission. The European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, said that joint projects of the region are good opportunities of cooperation.

Kosovo expects a positive outcome from the European Commission regarding the criteria for visa liberalization process for Kosovo.  The Ministry of European Integration has already concluded its second report which includes fulfillment of the criteria set by the European Union evaluation mission. The European Integration Minister Bekim Collaku told Radio Free Europe that this report includes the technical and legislative packages necessary for this process.

Kosovo’s European Integration Minister Bekim Collaku, during the preparatory meeting of the National Committee for Investment said that all projects are for infrastructure and that the EU has already donated € 1 billion for these investments.  This committee met in order to discuss key infrastructure investments and co-financing of projects by the European Union.

Kosovo’s Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, will travel to Sweden today to meet with senior officials of the Swedish Government and to obtain support for advancing Kosovo’s European agenda and to deepen the bilateral cooperation.  Collaku will be received by Foreign Minister of Sweden, Margot Wallstrom, with whom he will discuss the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and visa liberalization dialogue for Kosovo.