Resolution on the European integration process of Kosovo

The European Parliament adopted a resolution tabled by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the European integration process of Kosovo.

Recalling that 22 of the EU's 27 Member States recognise Kosovo's independence, Parliament welcomes the outcome of the Commission's feasibility study, which found that a stabilisation and association agreement can be concluded in a situation where Member States maintain different views on Kosovo's status, provided that Kosovo fulfils a number of basic conditions. Parliament encourages Kosovo to invest more efforts in meeting the short-term priorities identified in the study in the fields of the rule of law, minorities, administrative capacity and trade, and to enhance its administrative capacity for negotiations, these being the criteria for the launch of stabilisation and association agreement negotiations. They note that the signing of a stabilisation and association agreement is an important step towards Kosovo's future integration into European structures and, ultimately, membership of the Union. The remaining five Member States are encouraged to proceed with recognising Kosovo.

Parliament welcomes the new high-level Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue initiated by theVP/HR as it has given new impetus to the dialogue between the two parties. It calls for full implementation of all the agreements particularly on integrated border management and the implementation of control points at the common border between the parties as determined in the agreement. Members stress the need to involve the parliaments and civil societies concerned, and build public trust and consult citizens. Parliament considers that the Kosovo authorities should take further steps to reach out to the Serbian minority, particularly in the north. At the same time, cooperation between all Kosovo Serbs should be enhanced and the Commission should support related projects and promote people-to-people contact. Parliament stresses the importance of EULEX for both the sustainable development of Kosovo and the consolidation of its institutions and stability.

Noting that corruption and organised crime are still widespread in the region, Parliament want the Kosovo authorities to demonstrate their political will to strengthen the rule of law. This involves, inter alia: (i) ending the practice of granting pardons to large numbers of convicted criminals; (ii) improving the independence, and accountability of the judiciary; (iii) coordinating Kosovo's police forces and judicial authorities; (iv) better cooperation between EULEX and Europol and Interpol including Kosovo in both Europol and Interpol, at least as an observer; (v) improving the framework for witness protection; (vi) implementing a regional strategy and enhanced cooperation between all the countries in the region in order to tackle these scourges more effectively, in particular the trafficking and exploitation of women and minors. Parliament is particularly concerned by the continued trend of human trafficking through, and originating from, Kosovo, especially child trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

It goes on stress the challenges that remain in respect of human and community rights protection, discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, and women's rights and gender equality.  Members stress the need for a comprehensive anti-discrimination strategy, and for the full implementation of the Law on Anti-Discrimination. They further consider it regrettable that, notwithstanding the progress made, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons continues to be a challenge, and encourage the Kosovo authorities to make further efforts, giving particular attention to Serbian, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian returnees and promoting the social inclusion of the latter.