EP adopts Kosovo resolution

The European Parliament (EP) has adopted a resolution on Kosovo today, and called on all member-states who have not so far recognized Kosovo to do so.. The resolution was proposed by the European Parliament’s (EP) Kosovo rapporteur and Dutch MP, Joost Lagendijk. EP adopts Kosovo resolution The European Parliament adopted the resolution with 424 votes in favor and 133 against. The resolution welcomes the successful deployment of EULEX across Kosovo, including the region north of the Ibar River, and once again rejects the possibility of a partition of the province. The EP called on the international community to fully back EULEX and to facilitate the handover of powers from UNMIK to the EU mission in the areas of customs, police and justice. The resolution also welcomes the Serbian government's agreement to the mission’s deployment and its readiness to cooperate with the mission, and encourages Serbia to continue demonstrating its constructive approach, which is "in keeping with the state's aspirations to join the EU." Before the vote, the EP adopted an amendment to the draft resolution in which the EU member states that have not recognized Kosovo's independence were encouraged to do so. The European Parliament (FoNet, archive) Jeremic: Unacceptable for Serbia Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic says that the resolution on Kosovo adopted by the European Parliament (EP), which calls on EU countries that have not recognized the independence of Kosovo until now to do so, is unacceptable to Serbia because it runs counter to the Constitution and international law. “The EP is not an institution charged by the EU to deal with foreign policy. The Council of Ministers deals with foreign policy on behalf of the EU and, within the Council, there are countries that recognize Kosovo as an independent state and others that do not. Therefore, the EU is divided within the institution that is legally tasked with this issue,” Jeremic told the national news agency. He added that the vote in the EP had shown that there was no agreement over the issue of Kosovo. The minister reiterated that Serbia's EU accession remained the central priority of the Serbian government, adding that Belgrade would not give up the struggle for the preservation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity in Kosovo, using all legal, political and diplomatic means. "EU membership and the struggle for Kosovo are two different processes, and the official policy of Brussels and Belgrade is that these are two separate processes. I believe that it is in the best interests of peace and stability and the European future of the entire Western Balkan region that it remains so," Jeremic concluded.

EP adopts Kosovo resolution

The European Parliament adopted the resolution with 424 votes in favor and 133 against.

The resolution welcomes the successful deployment of EULEX across Kosovo, including the region north of the Ibar River, and once again rejects the possibility of a partition of the province.

The EP called on the international community to fully back EULEX and to facilitate the handover of powers from UNMIK to the EU mission in the areas of customs, police and justice.

The resolution also welcomes the Serbian government's agreement to the mission’s deployment and its readiness to cooperate with the mission, and encourages Serbia to continue demonstrating its constructive approach, which is "in keeping with the state's aspirations to join the EU."

Before the vote, the EP adopted an amendment to the draft resolution in which the EU member states that have not recognized Kosovo's independence were encouraged to do so.

Jeremić: Unacceptable for Serbia

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić says that the resolution on Kosovo adopted by the European Parliament (EP), which calls on EU countries that have not recognized the independence of Kosovo until now to do so, is unacceptable to Serbia because it runs counter to the Constitution and international law.

“The EP is not an institution charged by the EU to deal with foreign policy. The Council of Ministers deals with foreign policy on behalf of the EU and, within the Council, there are countries that recognize Kosovo as an independent state and others that do not. Therefore, the EU is divided within the institution that is legally tasked with this issue,” Jeremić told the national news agency.

He added that the vote in the EP had shown that there was no agreement over the issue of Kosovo.

The minister reiterated that Serbia's EU accession remained the central priority of the Serbian government, adding that Belgrade would not give up the struggle for the preservation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity in Kosovo, using all legal, political and diplomatic means.

"EU membership and the struggle for Kosovo are two different processes, and the official policy of Brussels and Belgrade is that these are two separate processes. I believe that it is in the best interests of peace and stability and the European future of the entire Western Balkan region that it remains so," Jeremić concluded.