Kosovo’s European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, said that the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) which starts today, is very important for Kosovo because it will strengthen the political stability, rule of law, international and regional cooperation, sustainable economy market and gradual alignment with European standards in all areas. He also added that the SAA despite the benefits, brings also many new obligations for Kosovo.

Kosovo Assembly with 64 votes in favor, 10 abstentions and one vote against, today elected Besim Dina as chairman of the board of the Procurement Review Body (PRB). As members of the board were elected: Nuhi Paqarizi and Goran Milenkovic. Their mandate will last five years. The Assembly also elected Besnik Osmani as General Auditor. European Integration Minister Bekim Collaku said this is good news for the functioning of the institutions and it is also important for visa liberalization process.

Kosovo’s European Integration Minister Bekim Collaku met today with the EU Special Representative and head of EU Office in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar and discussed preparations for the upcoming visit of EU experts for the assessment of the visa liberalization criteria implementation. Collaku said relevant Kosovo institutions are well-prepared to address all concerns of the EU experts.

Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku, said today in Pristina that the non-enlargement of the European Union in the Western Balkans could lead to increased influence of Russia and ISIS in the region. During a round-table on EU enlargement, Collaku said he was aware of the latest crisis faced by the EU such as the refugee crisis and the growth of right-wing parties, “but crises in the past did not stop the enlargement of the Union”.

Kosovo European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, said today that the European Commission was very clear when they said the report on Kosovo published in December 2015 will be the last one. “We don’t expect any other reports but we are waiting for the European Commission to acknowledge the progress in fulfilling the visa liberalization requirements,” Collaku said. According to him, Kosovo is now ready to receive positive news on visa liberalization. “This is a decision of the European Union institutions and the member states.

Today, Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku, criticized the actions of opposition parties saying that they are seriously damaging Kosovo’s prospect of European integration. Collaku said he regrets that the opposition is doing nothing to help Kosovo meet the visa liberalization requirements. “The actions of the opposition are against not only the visa liberalization requirements but also against our strategic orientation for Euro-Atlantic integration,” Collaku said.

Kosovo’s Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, announced today that the recommendation of the European Commission for providing the facility and budgetary independence for the Ombudsperson was fulfilled today. “Today we have found a solution for establishing this institution in a new location, in the former building of the Bank of Ljubljana. This will ensure smooth and full capacity of this institution.

Kosovo’s Minister for European integration, Bekim Collaku, said today that Kosovo has fulfilled six of the remaining eight criteria for visa liberalization. According to Collaku, the unmet criteria are the ratification of the agreement on border-demarcation with Montenegro and premises for the office of the Ombudsperson.

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution which assesses Kosovo's progress in the EU integration process. The start of EU accession negotiations with Serbia and the progress made in normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo was welcomed by MEPs in two resolutions passed today.

Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku, met with ambassadors of EU member states today and briefed them on the implementation of the eight outstanding requirements on the visa liberalization road map and the steps Kosovo institutions will take in the coming weeks. EU ambassadors are reported to have acknowledged the commitment of Kosovo institutions to the process and reaffirmed the support of their respective countries.