European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos described as "encouraging" the developments surrounding the five European countries that do not recognize Kosovo's independence.
During an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, the rapporteur for Kosovo in the EP, Riho Terras, asked Commissioner Kos what the European Commission is doing regarding the five non-recognizing states, when it has recently discussed them, and how it should act in this regard.
"Regarding the five non-recognizing states, I follow what is happening and the development is encouraging," Kos said briefly, without providing further details.
Greece, Spain, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus, EU member states, do not recognize the independence that Kosovo declared in 2008.
Non-acceptance by these countries is considered an obstacle to Kosovo's European path.
Kosovo submitted its application for EU membership in December 2022. However, this application has not yet even passed the first formal phase, that of review by the EU Council and then sending it for opinion to the European Commission.
During the meeting, Terras also asked Kosi why she has not visited Kosovo yet since taking office. The European Commissioner said that despite not being in Kosovo, she is in contact with the authorities in Pristina.
She stressed that due to the political situation, she was forced to postpone a visit to Kosovo. However, Kos, in her opening speech at the session, said that she expects to be in Kosovo soon for reforms related to the Growth Plan.
"We have lifted the measures and expect the Government to continue with the necessary reforms to benefit from EU support. I will be in Pristina soon to take this issue forward," she said.
On April 16, Kosovo received 61.8 million euros in pre-financing, after the country submitted the necessary documents to the EC and ratified the agreements related to this plan.
The EU package for the Western Balkans – for the period 2024-2027 – is worth 6 billion euros. If we analyze the budget allocations, Kosovo is entitled to about 882 million euros – 253 million as grants and 629 million euros in the form of loans – which means that it benefits from the most funds in the region per capita./REL
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