Kosovo must implement the agreements already achieved through dialogue with Serbia in Brussels and continue working towards further agreements.

The EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said in a press conference delivered through video link that the goal of the European Union is to have all Western Balkans countries join in but added that the accession pace will depend entirely on the countries themselves.

The EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, today while addressing the Kosovo Assembly MPs said the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) is a great achievement and crucial for Kosovo on its path towards the EU. This agreement, Hahn said, aims to political dialogue and support for Kosovo to improve international cooperation.

The EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said today in Pristina that he believes that by the end of this year the European Commission might recommend that Kosovo has achieved the standards required for visa liberalization. Hahn, in a joint press conference with Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said that in terms of visa liberalization, the initial findings are that Kosovo has met the criteria, but has yet to engage in other required objectives.

Vetevendosje MPs displayed two banners during today’s session of the Kosovo Assembly when the European Union Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Commissioner was delivering his speech. One of the banners asked “Is ethnic segregation an EU value?” in reference to the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. Another banner said “Unjust agreements shall not pass” referring to Vetevendosje’s determination to stop what they consider damaging agreements for Kosovo and its people.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini today in Strasbourg signed the Stabilization/Association Agreement (SAA) between Kosovo and the EU. Mustafa, after signing the accord said that this is one of the most important days for Kosovo. “Today, my country officially entered into contractual relations with the European Union. This agreement confirms Kosovo’s path towards the EU.

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.

Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, met with the leaders of the four main political parties in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in Brussels yesterday, to continue discussions on finding a solution for the political crisis in the country.

The EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, has summoned Macedonian government and opposition leaders to Brussels on Wednesday for detailed talks on ending the country's crisis.

Hahn is due to meet Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and opposition Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss an agreement on a transitional period that will lead up to snap elections by next April.

By NIKOLA DIMITROV AND ERWAN FOUERE

Last week’s statement by commissioner Johannes Hahn on Macedonia’s election track record comes at the worst possible moment for efforts to resolve the political crisis. At an event hosted by the National Council, a think tank in Washington, on 4 June, Hahn said the last elections in Macedonia (in 2014), as with other votes, had been monitored by the OSCE/ODIHR and “in general the report on them was positive”.