EU asks Kosovo and Serbia to find a solution and avoid conflict

Gazeta Express

07/05/2020 17:16

The European Union treats the Western Balkans as privileged partners and the future of the Western Balkans is in the European Union. This is what was stated by the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi addressing the European Parliament AFET Committee following the EU-Western Balkans’ leaders videoconference. He said that it is important that this message is correctly communicated to the citizens in the region.

During the meeting headed by Chairman of the AFET Committee, David McAllister, Varhelyi presented results of Wednesday’s Zagreb Summit between EU and Western Balklans which was attended also by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci. EU Commissioner informed AFET members on the Zagreb Declaration and EU’s financial help for the Western Balkans to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences.

Varhelyi said that as a true sign that the EU and Western Balkans are partners is the fact that the region has been exempted from the export authorisation for medical equipment, and extension of the ‘green lanes’ to facilitate transport of goods to the borders with the region and within the region. He said the EU later this year, this Autumn, we come forward with an Economic and Investment Plan for the region. “The aim of this plan will be to spur the long-term recovery, to create jobs by boosting economic growth, to increase further trade flows within the region and with the EU and finally to support the necessary reforms required on the EU path,” Varhelyi said. According to Commissioner Varhelyi the European Parliament and the AFET Committee in particular have a crucial role to play in supporting WB partner countries in the Western Balkans to achieve these goals.

When asked by MEPs on relations between Kosovo and Serbia and potential exchange of territories as rumoured by some individuals, Varhelyi said: “The EU’s position is clear that both countries should agree on a solution in order to avoid conflict.” /GazetaExpress/