The European Union Representative in Kosovo, Aivo Orav, has stated that punitive measures against Kosovo are now a thing of the past, emphasizing that Brussels is ready to engage in a new phase of cooperation with the country’s institutions.
“The measures are behind us now and we need to start moving forward,” Orav said, adding that the EU is ready to launch new programs and projects with Kosovo as soon as possible.
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Ambassador Orav made these comments during a meeting with a group of journalists from the media in Kosovo.
He assessed that recent developments in the country have created a more favorable situation for advancement, citing the stabilization of the situation in the north and the transfer of power to municipalities with a Serb majority.
“The problems that existed then have now disappeared… this has enabled us to move forward,” he stressed.
Dialogue with Serbia remains key
The EU Ambassador emphasized that the European integration process for Kosovo is closely linked to the dialogue with Serbia and the normalization of relations.
“Dialogue is the key word… the normalization process must develop and this is possible,” Orav said, according to Telegrafi.
He described the March 14 agreement as an important development that proves that compromises are possible and that the parties can move forward.
“This is a great achievement and shows that it is possible to move forward in dialogue,” he said.
EU integration and expectations from Kosovo
Orav announced that Kosovo’s application for EU membership has not advanced due to previous measures, but now expects new dynamics.
“When we can say that these measures are behind us, we hope that there will be new dynamics,” he declared.
However, he stressed that progress also depends on internal political developments in the country.
“Kosovo must do its best to resolve its internal issues as quickly as possible,” Orav said.
The European Ambassador praised the organization of the elections in Kosovo, emphasizing that they were held without major problems.
“Kosovo is now mature enough to hold elections… there were no major problems in the organization,” he said.
Message for the future
At the end of his mandate, Orav emphasized that the European Union remains committed to helping Kosovo on its path towards integration.
“We want Kosovo to move forward towards the European Union and our job is to remove the obstacles,” he said.Telegraph.