• Osmani: EP’s support - a guarantee for Kosovo's European path(media)
• The Netherlands gives positive signals for visa liberalization (Telegrafi)
• Slim chances for decision-making on visa liberalization at EU Summit (Koha)
• Shala: Kosovo-Serbia agreement on energy must be implemented (KTV)
• Rohde on Open Balkan: It doesn’t seem to be a comprehensive initiative (Kallxo)
• Majority, opposition trade blames for interruption of Assembly session (media)
• Osmani and Konjufca most liked politicians, according to poll (media)
• Germany extends military deployment in Kosovo (Euractiv)
• Balkans losing hope of progress on EU membership (VOA)

Osmani: EP’s support - a guarantee for Kosovo's European path (media)

President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani said in a meeting with the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola that the European Parliament has clearly and consistently expressed the will of the people of the EU to pave the way for visa liberalization for the citizens of Kosovo, as well as the need to accelerate the European perspective. She expressed deep gratitude of the people and institutions of Kosovo to President Metsola.

“In an open and substantive discussion with the President of the Parliament Roberta Metsola we discussed in Brussels the need for the leaders of the EU member states to reflect the will of the Parliament, as well as to give a clear signal that democratic, freedom-loving countries, committed to European values, have a place in the EU,” Osmani said after the meeting.

The Netherlands gives positive signals for visa liberalization (Telegrafi)

Dutch MP Kati Piri, who is also a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations, spoke on the issue of the Western Balkans. In a post on her official Twitter account, Piri said the Netherlands has changed in terms of the European integration of Western Balkans states.

“After years of Dutch veto on EU enlargement, the mood is changing in parliament: support the EU candidacy of Ukraine and Moldova; committed to Georgia's candidacy, once conditions are met; ready to review visa liberalization for Kosovo; support start of negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia,” Piri wrote.

Slim chances for decision-making on visa liberalization at EU Summit (Koha)

The daily reports on its front page that despite optimistic statements by state leaders and foreign diplomats, there are slim chances for visa liberalization for Kosovo to be included in the agenda of the EU Summit which will be held today and tomorrow. It is not ruled out however that political support will be offered for the process. According to announcements, EU leaders are expected to give the candidate status to Moldova and Georgia and reiterate that the Western Balkans has a European future.

Shala: Kosovo-Serbia agreement on energy must be implemented (KTV)

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Ferat Shala, said on Wednesday that the agreement on energy between Kosovo and Serbia must be implemented. Shala said in an interview with KTV that the PDK is not against the roadmap for the implementation of the agreement reached in 2013 but that the laws and Constitution of Kosovo must be respected.

“This is not a new agreement. There is a roadmap, and we have nothing against it, but the laws and Constitution must be respected. I believe it should be implemented and there is no reason for any of the parties to have any problems with this,” he said.

Shala also said he hopes the agreement will not pave the way for the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities.

Rohde on Open Balkan: It doesn’t seem to be a comprehensive initiative (Kallxo)

German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde, said in the “Kallxo Pernime” show that German Chancellor Scholz is promoting the Berlin Process because they have initiated it. "In all his visits over the past week, the Chancellor has been clear that he wants to revive the Berlin Process, and he said this at the press conference held here,” he said.

"We have initiated the Berlin Process, our Chancellor is promoting the Berlin Process, so it is clear. But we will never criticize states that want to strengthen regional cooperation. The main question is whether it will be a comprehensive initiative, because at the moment, it does not seem to be so, there are some countries that are not part of the Open Balkans. Do we need another process? On the other hand, in some cases it happens that parallel processes are created in case the first option does not work," said the ambassador.

“Therefore, we must channel all our energy for the first process to work,” he said.

Rohde said the Berlin Process will have the regional market and recognition of diplomas among the countries of the Western Balkans, in its autumn agenda.

Rohde also said that Germany supports any government that has a reform agenda aimed at combating corruption, organized crime and strengthening the rule of law. In this regard, the ambassador said that they are seeing the first results of the current government in Kosovo.

Majority, opposition trade blames for interruption of Assembly session (media)

Kosovo Assembly session was adjourned on Wednesday as Parliament Speaker Glauk Konjufca said there was no quorum. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has addressed accusations against the ruling Vetevendosje Movement for preventing the voting of the legal initiative for the withdrawal of 30 percent of funds from the Trust Fund.

Abelard Tahiri chief of PDK parliamentary group, said at a press conference that the majority and LVV are finding different methods in the Assembly, to prevent the voting of the draft law.

"The Speaker of the Assembly, as well as some MPs of the majority, came under pressure from the government for fear that the draft law on the Trust would pass today,” said PDK MP Bekim Haxhiu. He further accused the head of the LVV parliamentary group Mimoza Kusari Lila, for asking the chairman of the Assembly to interrupt the session.

Kusari-Lila however held opposition political parties responsible for the interruption of the session. “It was not the majority that blocked it, but it was the opposition that refused to be active on the points that were on the agenda to be addressed today,” she argued.

Kusari-Lila also said that the opposition should be serious and not make blockades by choosing the agenda items that suit them. She reiterated that the Vetevendosje parliamentary group does not support the law that enables the withdrawal of money from the Trust adding that this would have long term consequences. “This is about preserving the well-being of citizens,” she said.

Osmani and Konjufca most liked politicians, according to poll (media)

Several news websites cover the results of a poll conducted by UBO, according to which President Vjosa Osmani and Assembly President Glauk Konjufca are the most liked politicians in Kosovo. In a rating scale from 1 to 5, Osmani was ranked with 3.37, Konjufca with 3.06 and Prime Minister Kurti with 2.98. Opposition leaders, LDK’s Lumir Abdixhiku is ranked with 2.92, and PDK’s Memli Krasniqi with 2.60.

Germany extends military deployment in Kosovo (Euractiv)

Germany extended the military deployment of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission Kosovo Force (KFOR) yesterday (22 June). Especially the Russian influence in the region is seen as a problem.

There are currently 80 Bundeswehr soldiers deployed in the mission, which counts military personnel of about 3,700. The decision makes Germany the third-largest contributor to KFOR, after Italy and the United States.

“Our commitment on the ground with the people in Kosovo and in general with the people in the Western Balkans region is more important than ever these days. Because we are witnessing a brutal war in the middle of Europe,” Thomas Hitschler, state secretary in the German defence ministry, told the Bundestag on Wednesday.

“And it also has repercussions here in Western Europe as well as, and especially, in the multi-ethnic Western Balkans. Russia has always had a considerable interest in destabilising the region. This is also a way of exerting pressure on the European Union,” he added.

Balkans losing hope of progress on EU membership (VOA)

In Kosovo, which has been waiting for visa-free travel to the European Union since 2010, a restaurant owner has erected a large replica of France's famed Eiffel Tower for its diners.

"We have built it as a form of consolation for the people who cannot go to Paris," said Blerim Bislimi, owner of Te Anija (At The Boat) restaurant on the edge of the capital Pristina.

The joke reflects a wider malaise across the Balkans about the prospects of its six members — Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia — ever joining the EU.

A lack of progress on milestones such as visa-free travel along the way has lead to such a sense of disillusion that the leaders of Albania and Serbia briefly considered not attending Thursday's Balkan-EU summit in Brussels.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday they will now go, but Rama expressed his despondency on Twitter: "We'll attend the EU Council meeting. There won't be much to hear about."

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