Kosovo’s government officially applied for membership of the European Union (EU) on Wednesday. However, this is more of a symbolic act: EU membership is currently not within reach for the country, which has been independent since 2008.
A major obstacle to rapprochement is that the governments of Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Greece and Cyprus do not even recognize Kosovo. The country (some 1.9 million inhabitants), now almost exclusively inhabited by Albanians, used to belong to Yugoslavia or Serbia. After repression by the Serbian security forces against the Albanian civilian population, NATO bombed targets in what was then Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) in the spring of 1999. As a result, Serbian security forces and state organs left Kosovo and a UN mission was tasked with running the country and establishing institutions.
Tensions with Serbia
Austria recognizes the state like more than 100 other countries worldwide. As reported, Serbia has not relinquished its claim to the territory to this day. Tensions between the two countries are on the rise.
Schieder: “Chance for reforms and stability”
Formally, Kosovo now only has an “EU accession perspective”. Individual MEPs welcome the application for EU membership. “The Republic of Kosovo clearly belongs to Europe, its citizens live according to the values of the EU,” said Lukas Mandl (ÖVP). It must be connected to the “spirit and leadership of those responsible for previous generations”. SPÖ head of delegation Andreas Schieder spoke of a “real chance for reforms and long-term stability in the whole region.” With the application, Kosovo and its political leaders would show that they support the values of the EU. However, there is still a long way to go to full membership.
Bosnia and Herzegovina would officially receive EU accession candidate status on Thursday. Other candidates are Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
Source: Krone
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