EU states and Kosovo recognition: More than 20, less than 27

After yesterday's ministerial meeting it is unclear how many EU countries back Kosovo's recognition. After the EU Council of Ministers meeting, Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu suggested that consultations between member-states on solving the Kosovo crisis should continue beyond December 10. EU states and Kosovo recognition: More than 20, less than 27 Cioroianu said in Brussels yesterday that Bucharest did not agree that the minority of EU countries opposing Kosovo independence should be brought into line with the majority. “On the contrary, we should find a common standpoint,” he said. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said yesterday that there was no consensus among member-states on the future mission to Kosovo, and added that Spain advocated a mission being sent to the province based on the principles of international legal legitimacy and a common EU position. Hungarian Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz said that a unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence without the support of the international community was undesirable. She stressed that it was essential to “preserve the balance” in international efforts to find a solution for the province. UK Minister for Europe Jim Murphy declared that over 20 EU member-states supported Kosovo independence. “A large European majority already exists in support of recognizing Kosovo independence, certainly more than 20 countries, though we don’t yet have all 27,” Murphy told reporters after yesterday’s meeting. The minister said that in principle individual countries recognized other countries, although in terms of managing the process, it was much better for all involved if maximal international unity existed. The U.S. firmly supports Kosovo independence, while the EU is divided and, even those European countries that are in favor, want to have UN approval or at least extensive international support, says Reuters. “Kosovo should be independent, but it should not take the form of an unmanaged unilateral declaration. It should be a declaration coordinated with the international community,” Murphy told reporters. The EU wants to make sure that the Kosovo Albanians do not declare independence “in haste,” French Minister for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet told French agency AFP. AFP also quotes a European diplomat close to the talks who says that the EU will try to determine “what the Kosovo Albanians want to commit themselves to before approving such a scenario.” Deutsche Zeitung writes today that the EU has given up hope of Belgrade and Pristina reaching any agreement. The paper claims that the EU is preparing conditions “behind the scenes” under which they would be prepared to recognize Kosovo independence, thereby “abandoning” its demand for Kosovo’s status to be regulated by a new UN Security Council resolution. Reporting on attitudes in Brussels, the paper says that an extension of the talks beyond December 10 has been ruled out as “everything conceivable has already been done,” adding that European diplomats do not conceal the fact that, three weeks prior to the expiry of the Troika’s mandate, they feel that it would take a miracle for Belgrade and Pristina to reach any kind of compromise.

EU states and Kosovo recognition: More than 20, less than 27

Cioroianu said in Brussels yesterday that Bucharest did not agree that the minority of EU countries opposing Kosovo independence should be brought into line with the majority. “On the contrary, we should find a common standpoint,” he said.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said yesterday that there was no consensus among member-states on the future mission to Kosovo, and added that Spain advocated a mission being sent to the province based on the principles of international legal legitimacy and a common EU position.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz said that a unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence without the support of the international community was undesirable. She stressed that it was essential to “preserve the balance” in international efforts to find a solution for the province.

UK Minister for Europe Jim Murphy declared that over 20 EU member-states supported Kosovo independence.

“A large European majority already exists in support of recognizing Kosovo independence, certainly more than 20 countries, though we don’t yet have all 27,” Murphy told reporters after yesterday’s meeting.

The minister said that in principle individual countries recognized other countries, although in terms of managing the process, it was much better for all involved if maximal international unity existed.

The U.S. firmly supports Kosovo independence, while the EU is divided and, even those European countries that are in favor, want to have UN approval or at least extensive international support, says Reuters.

“Kosovo should be independent, but it should not take the form of an unmanaged unilateral declaration. It should be a declaration coordinated with the international community,” Murphy told reporters.

The EU wants to make sure that the Kosovo Albanians do not declare independence “in haste,” French Minister for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet told French agency AFP.

AFP also quotes a European diplomat close to the talks who says that the EU will try to determine “what the Kosovo Albanians want to commit themselves to before approving such a scenario.”

Deutsche Zeitung writes today that the EU has given up hope of Belgrade and Priština reaching any agreement. The paper claims that the EU is preparing conditions “behind the scenes” under which they would be prepared to recognize Kosovo independence, thereby “abandoning” its demand for Kosovo’s status to be regulated by a new UN Security Council resolution.

Reporting on attitudes in Brussels, the paper says that an extension of the talks beyond December 10 has been ruled out as “everything conceivable has already been done,” adding that European diplomats do not conceal the fact that, three weeks prior to the expiry of the Troika’s mandate, they feel that it would take a miracle for Belgrade and Priština to reach any kind of compromise.