Rehn: Only EU members can recognize states

European Commissioner Olli Rehn stated on May 29 that the issue of recognizing Kosovo is in the hands of EU member states. He also took issue with the claims of some ministers in the European Parliament (EP) that by raising the flag of a self-proclaimed "independent Kosovo," the EP had recognized Kosovo as an independent state. Rehn: Only EU members can recognize states Rehn emphasized that the European Commission "is working on the basis of joint decisions by the European Union" and "there is no authority to recognize any state," as has already been done by certain EU member-states. He added, however, that the EP can act "at its own discretion" within its own structures. The rapporteur for Serbia in the EP, Jelko Kacin, stated that the meeting between representatives of the EP and the Kosovo Assembly had indicated the recognition of an independent Kosovo, since the flag of an "independent Kosovo" was raised for the first time at this meeting. The head of the EP's delegation for Southeastern Europe , Doris Pack, told journalists that the it had every right to raise the flag of "independent Kosovo." Commenting on Serbia's protest, she said: "That is Belgrade's reaction, but it is not up to them what we do here in the European Parliament." "We have our own rules. We decided to accept the Ahtisaari Plan and what is happening this year is only a continuation of that. Therefore, we have the right to raise the flag of this new state," stated Pack. Some MEPs challenged the right to raise the flag of "independent Kosovo" and sought to emphasize in a joint statement that independence had been unilaterally declared in Pristina, but this motion was turned down. Olli Rehn (FoNet, archive)

Rehn: Only EU members can recognize states

Rehn emphasized that the European Commission "is working on the basis of joint decisions by the European Union" and "there is no authority to recognize any state," as has already been done by certain EU member-states. He added, however, that the EP can act "at its own discretion" within its own structures.

The rapporteur for Serbia in the EP, Jelko Kacin, stated that the meeting between representatives of the EP and the Kosovo Assembly had indicated the recognition of an independent Kosovo, since the flag of an "independent Kosovo" was raised for the first time at this meeting.

The head of the EP's delegation for Southeastern Europe , Doris Pack, told journalists that the it had every right to raise the flag of "independent Kosovo." Commenting on Serbia's protest, she said: "That is Belgrade's reaction, but it is not up to them what we do here in the European Parliament."

"We have our own rules. We decided to accept the Ahtisaari Plan and what is happening this year is only a continuation of that. Therefore, we have the right to raise the flag of this new state," stated Pack.

Some MEPs challenged the right to raise the flag of "independent Kosovo" and sought to emphasize in a joint statement that independence had been unilaterally declared in Priština, but this motion was turned down.