EP backs supervised independence

BRUSSELS Members of the European Parliament today voted to give full support to Ahtisaari’s Kosovo plan. The adopted report stated that "sovereignty supervised by the international community is the best option for securing the objectives of a peaceful, self-sustaining Kosovo.” EP backs supervised independence The report also “reaffirmed the European perspective of both Serbia and Kosovo, and called for the EU to play a central role in the current international negotiations for a settlement.” The own-initiative report by Joost Lagendijk (Greens/EFA, Netherlands), adopted by an overwhelming majority (490 in favor to 80 against with 87 abstentions) spelled out several desirable aspects of a settlement, including access to international financial organizations, an international presence in Kosovo, with a clear definition of its role and mandate, clear provisions on decentralization which grant substantial autonomy in key areas. The report also called on full respect of human rights, retention of Kosovo's multi-ethnic character, with protection for cultural and religious sites, the establishment of a limited, internal, multi-ethnic Kosovo Security Force, and international guarantees for the territorial integrity of all neighboring states. The European parliament said on its website that “addressing fears, especially in Russia, that granting Kosovo any form of independence would exacerbate other separatist tensions around the globe, the report ‘underlines that the solution in Kosovo will set no precedent in international law, as Kosovo has been under UN rule since 1999 [...and] is in no way comparable to the situation in other conflict regions which are not under UN administration.’” The document added, "in the long run, the solution regarding the future status of Kosovo lies also in the fact that both Serbia and Kosovo are due to become part of the EU, together with their neighbors, since the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union." The report emphasized that the EU member states should “speak with one voice on the Kosovo issue,” by adopting a common position in Council, and maintaining it in international fora, especially the UN Security Council. The Parliament also argued that "the European Union should have a decisive say on the final terms of the settlement." European Parliament members also called for a visa facilitation agreement for Kosovo, to ease access for travel into the European Union. Finally, the report stated that "the EP is prepared to make available the additional resources required in order to finance the future EU involvement in Kosovo with a view to implementing the status settlement." The report also expressed the Parliament's support for the establishment of an ESDP (European Security and Defense Policy) mission to Kosovo.

EP backs supervised independence

The report also “reaffirmed the European perspective of both Serbia and Kosovo, and called for the EU to play a central role in the current international negotiations for a settlement.”

The own-initiative report by Joost Lagendijk (Greens/EFA, Netherlands), adopted by an overwhelming majority (490 in favor to 80 against with 87 abstentions) spelled out several desirable aspects of a settlement, including access to international financial organizations, an international presence in Kosovo, with a clear definition of its role and mandate, clear provisions on decentralization which grant substantial autonomy in key areas.

The report also called on full respect of human rights, retention of Kosovo's multi-ethnic character, with protection for cultural and religious sites, the establishment of a limited, internal, multi-ethnic Kosovo Security Force, and international guarantees for the territorial integrity of all neighboring states.

The European parliament said on its website that “addressing fears, especially in Russia, that granting Kosovo any form of independence would exacerbate other separatist tensions around the globe, the report ‘underlines that the solution in Kosovo will set no precedent in international law, as Kosovo has been under UN rule since 1999 [...and] is in no way comparable to the situation in other conflict regions which are not under UN administration.’”

The document added, "in the long run, the solution regarding the future status of Kosovo lies also in the fact that both Serbia and Kosovo are due to become part of the EU, together with their neighbors, since the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union."

The report emphasized that the EU member states should “speak with one voice on the Kosovo issue,” by adopting a common position in Council, and maintaining it in international fora, especially the UN Security Council.

The Parliament also argued that "the European Union should have a decisive say on the final terms of the settlement." 

European Parliament members also called for a visa facilitation agreement for Kosovo, to ease access for travel into the European Union.

Finally, the report stated that "the EP is prepared to make available the additional resources required in order to finance the future EU involvement in Kosovo with a view to implementing the status settlement."

The report also expressed the Parliament's support for the establishment of an ESDP (European Security and Defense Policy) mission to Kosovo.