EP to adopt Kosovo resolution on Thursday

MEP Doris Pack has denied claims that a resolution on Kosovo is being adopted to coincide with the 1st anniversary of its unilateral independence declaration. She explained that the document had been drafted a month ago. EP to adopt Kosovo resolution on Thursday “The European Parliament (EP) debated Kosovo today, and tomorrow will adopt a resolution on Kosovo, but the basis for this resolution is not the anniversary of Kosovo independence” said Pack, speaking to RTV Kosovo. “The resolution was drafted a month ago based on the development process in Kosovo and EULEX’s work, the general situation in Kosovo, Belgrade-Pristina relations, and so on. Every issue has its own place in the resolution,” she said. Asked what message the EP resolution would send to officials in Belgrade, she answered that the EP was appealing to Belgrade “not to hinder the development of this state (Kosovo) and not to support a parallel structure.” “We’ve asked for EULEX’s work to be supported throughout Kosovo. But we’ve also asked the Kosovo government to carry out what is enshrined in the Kosovo constitution. As you know, the constitution is based on the Ahtisaari plan. That’s why the Kosovo government needs to send a clear signal that life in Kosovo is possible for all minorities,” said Pack. The resolution, she said, called for the establishment of a multi-ethnic university “so that Albanian and Serb students would have the chance to study together.” She added that there were universities in Mitrovica and Pristina, but that a multi-ethnic university should be based in the center of Kosovo, and the resolution makes some recommendations about how Kosovo can and should progress. Pack’s stance is that it isn’t good when a community like the EU is not united over Kosovo. “The EU doesn’t represent just one state, but a union of states, in which every state can make its own decisions. We are not the U.S., and because of that we can’t do anything about the opinions of those EU member-states that have still not recognized Kosovo independence. Nevertheless, one thing is clear: 27 member-states supported and stood behind the EULEX mission to Kosovo,” she underlined. Doris Pack (FoNet, archive) EU to deliver Kosovo statement The EU is due to make a statement today about the first anniversary of Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration, though divisions remain within the Union. At its session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament (EP) will invite the EU Council of Ministers and European Commission (EC) to give statements about Kosovo’s development, as Feb. 17 marks the anniversary of its unilateral independence declaration. Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, presiding over the EU in the first half of this year, will present the views of the Council of Ministers on Kosovo at the session, as will EC President Jose Manuel Barroso. Debate on a Kosovo resolution, a coordinated proposal submitted by EP Rapporteur for Kosovo Joost Lagendijk, a member of the Dutch Greens, has been included on the agenda for this afternoon. It is possible, if the debate lasts long, that adoption of the resolution will be moved to Thursday afternoon. An EP statement noted that in Kosovo “EULEX is now acting with a two-year mandate, under the wing of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and will end as soon as Kosovo’s government gains enough experience to ensure the activities of a legal state for all members of its society.” It was also noted that the Czech EU presidency would “invest every effort into the gradual normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, especially concerning bilateral participation in regional cooperation.” The resolution, which will be adopted after the EP’s debate, praises the Serbian government’s agreement to deploy EULEX in Kosovo. “MEPs encourage Serbia to offer further evidence of these constructive steps, which coincide with its aspirations to join the EU.” The draft resolution emphasizes the “necessity of a multi-ethnic police force in all parts of Kosovo.” The Kosovo government is also called on to support the reinstatement of Serb police officers within the Kosovo police force.

EP to adopt Kosovo resolution on Thursday

“The European Parliament (EP) debated Kosovo today, and tomorrow will adopt a resolution on Kosovo, but the basis for this resolution is not the anniversary of Kosovo independence” said Pack, speaking to RTV Kosovo.

“The resolution was drafted a month ago based on the development process in Kosovo and EULEX’s work, the general situation in Kosovo, Belgrade-Priština relations, and so on. Every issue has its own place in the resolution,” she said.

Asked what message the EP resolution would send to officials in Belgrade, she answered that the EP was appealing to Belgrade “not to hinder the development of this state (Kosovo) and not to support a parallel structure.”

“We’ve asked for EULEX’s work to be supported throughout Kosovo. But we’ve also asked the Kosovo government to carry out what is enshrined in the Kosovo constitution. As you know, the constitution is based on the Ahtisaari plan. That’s why the Kosovo government needs to send a clear signal that life in Kosovo is possible for all minorities,” said Pack.

The resolution, she said, called for the establishment of a multi-ethnic university “so that Albanian and Serb students would have the chance to study together.”

She added that there were universities in Mitrovica and Priština, but that a multi-ethnic university should be based in the center of Kosovo, and the resolution makes some recommendations about how Kosovo can and should progress.

Pack’s stance is that it isn’t good when a community like the EU is not united over Kosovo.

“The EU doesn’t represent just one state, but a union of states, in which every state can make its own decisions. We are not the U.S., and because of that we can’t do anything about the opinions of those EU member-states that have still not recognized Kosovo independence. Nevertheless, one thing is clear: 27 member-states supported and stood behind the EULEX mission to Kosovo,” she underlined.

EU to deliver Kosovo statement

The EU is due to make a statement today about the first anniversary of Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration, though divisions remain within the Union.

At its session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament (EP) will invite the EU Council of Ministers and European Commission (EC) to give statements about Kosovo’s development, as Feb. 17 marks the anniversary of its unilateral independence declaration.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, presiding over the EU in the first half of this year, will present the views of the Council of Ministers on Kosovo at the session, as will EC President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Debate on a Kosovo resolution, a coordinated proposal submitted by EP Rapporteur for Kosovo Joost Lagendijk, a member of the Dutch Greens, has been included on the agenda for this afternoon.

It is possible, if the debate lasts long, that adoption of the resolution will be moved to Thursday afternoon.

An EP statement noted that in Kosovo “EULEX is now acting with a two-year mandate, under the wing of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and will end as soon as Kosovo’s government gains enough experience to ensure the activities of a legal state for all members of its society.”

It was also noted that the Czech EU presidency would “invest every effort into the gradual normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, especially concerning bilateral participation in regional cooperation.”

The resolution, which will be adopted after the EP’s debate, praises the Serbian government’s agreement to deploy EULEX in Kosovo.

“MEPs encourage Serbia to offer further evidence of these constructive steps, which coincide with its aspirations to join the EU.”

The draft resolution emphasizes the “necessity of a multi-ethnic police force in all parts of Kosovo.” The Kosovo government is also called on to support the reinstatement of Serb police officers within the Kosovo police force.