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For years, the European Union has shouldered the burden of solving the problem between Kosovo and Serbia, given that both countries aspire to be integrated into the EU.
The EU wants to make both countries part of it, but without the problems they have with each other. In order to solve the problems, to normalize the relations and to fulfill the obligations arising from the dialogue, the EU is already conditioning both countries with the financial benefits from the Union.
Both countries must make progress in normalization if they want financial benefits from the EU, as the instability and the aggravated security situation between the two countries is worrying for Brussels.
In order to bring the countries of the Western Balkans closer to the EU, in November of this year, the European Commission made public the plan of 6 billion euros named as "Growth Plan" or in the Albanian language "Plani i Rritjes". However, the possibility for Kosovo and Serbia to benefit from these funds has conditions.
The general prerequisite for both states will be to commit to the normalization of relations, the implementation of the Agreement on the Road to Normalization, the Implementation Annex as well as the obligations arising from the previous Dialogue.
Indeed, it will also be a general precondition that Serbia and Kosovo engage constructively in the normalization of their relations with a view to fully implementing all their respective obligations arising from the Agreement on the Road to Normalization and Annexation of its Implementation and all the past Dialogue. Agreements and involvement in negotiations for the Comprehensive Agreement for the normalization of relations ", a spokesman for the European Commission told Express Newspaper.
In the response to Express, the European Commission emphasizes their concern regarding the insecurity created in the region, especially between Kosovo and Serbia, underlining the September 24 attack in Banjska.
The EC says that it is essential to address the open issues between the two countries and to find solutions mutually acceptable to the parties.
" As noted in this year's communique of the enlargement package, bilateral issues, especially in the Western Balkans, are hindering not only regional economic integration, but also slowing down the countries' respective paths in the EU. Unresolved issues generate the risk of instability and even escalation, as evidenced by the violent attack against Kosovo police on September 24 in Banjska, northern Kosovo. Therefore, it is essential that the open issues are addressed and mutually acceptable solutions are found by the interested parties ", this spokesperson of the European Commission added further.
In the end, the EC emphasizes that both Kosovo and Serbia risk losing many opportunities if they do not advance in the normalization of relations.
" The normalization of relations is an essential condition in the European path of both parties. Both risk losing important opportunities in the absence of progress ", stated the spokesperson of the European Commission.
These conditions for Kosovo and Serbia are in addition to the technical conditions that the countries must meet in order to benefit from this 6 billion euro EU fund.
"The Growth Plan offers the advantages of EU membership before joining the European Union, but also the potential to significantly speed up the membership process provided that fundamental reforms take place. The plan will be supported by a newly proposed performance-based financing instrument, the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, subject to approval by the Council and Parliament. This new financing instrument offers a new tool that combines grants and loans and enables extensive ex ante conditions, which is an innovation. To benefit from the Relief, each beneficiary will have to prepare a Reform Agenda, which will be consulted, evaluated and approved by the Commission. Payments under the Facility will be subject to strict conditions. In the framework of the Facilitation, this will concern both essential reforms and socio-economic reforms. As such, the Facilitation has some similarities with the NextGenerationEU instrument established after the pandemic for Member States and combining grants and loans to support reforms and investments in EU Member States ", explained the European Commission.
The European Union is continuously seeking progress in the dialogue between the two states. The Slovak emissary, Miroslav Lajcak, during a forum held yesterday in Brussels, said that there is progress between Kosovo and Serbia and ordered both countries to take important decisions before the EU election campaign. Even the American ambassador, Jeff Hovenier, said that he would not want to wait until 2024-2025 for progress./ GazetaExpress
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