High Representative Borrell delivers report on removal of measures against Kosovo
The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joseph Borrell, has delivered to the EU member states a report on the Union’s temporary political and economic measures against the Kosovo.
Why is this relevant
The report will by discussed in the Council of the EU where the member states will decide whether Kosovo has taken the necessary steps for the removal of the measures.
Context
The EU measures against Kosovo include the temporary suspension of the institutions of the Stabilization and Association Agreement; not extending invitations to Kosovo to high-level events and suspending all bilateral visits except for those that focus on addressing the crisis in northern Kosovo within the EU-facilitated dialogue. A host of economic measures were also adopted including the suspension of the programming of IPA 2024 funds (Pre-Accession Instrument). Applications by Kosovo to the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) have also not been considered by the WBIF board.
However, following an armed attack against Kosovo Police in September 2023 in Banjska, by ethnic Serb gunmen, and a number of de-escalation measures undertaken by the Kosovo Government, including granting ethnic Serbs the possibility to vote for the dismissal of the newly installed Albanian mayors, the mood in the EU seems to have shifted somewhat.
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