Sweden, which holds the six-month rotating Presidency of the European Council, has started consultations regarding Kosovo’s membership application which was filed in December.
Kosovo which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 is currently left out of the EU, Council of Europe, NATO, and the United Nations due to a lack of consensus and recognition between other members, and the veto of Serbia and often Russia.
“We are consulting with many states to see how we will decide on this request. We have five countries that do not recognise Kosovo, and it is natural that I consult with them first. I have already met with some and we are continuing the meetings,” the Ambassador of Sweden to the EU, Lars Danielson told journalists in Brussels.
He added that he does not know what the outcome of the consultations will be and does not want to prejudge them.
The five countries that do not recognise Kosovo’s independence are Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Romania, and Slovakia. Serbia has claimed that other countries will soon withdraw recognition, but so far, this has not happened.
The permanent representative of Sweden in the EU has said that the decision on how to proceed with Kosovo’s application for membership in the EU is procedural but also political.
“It is a procedural decision, but it has great political importance…as soon as I see that a consensus is being built between the member countries on how to act, I will notify the member countries. We have two alternatives: To take it to the Commission or not to take it to the Commission. But we are working with a lot of will on this file,” said the ambassador.
Following an application for EU membership, the Council asks the Commission to compile an opinion on whether the applicant meets the relevant criteria for candidate status and the starting of negotiations.
(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)
Source: euractiv.com
