Minister Çitaku meets with Foreign Affairs Ministers and Ministers of European Affairs of the EU Member States – Kosovo closer to contractual relations with EU

Today in Luxembourg has been adopted by the member states the joint report of the Parliament and the Council on addressing short term priorities imposed in the EU-s Council Conclusions before the decision for opening of negotiations for a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) in December 2012. As a result, the Commission submitted the proposal to the Council to open SAA negotiations and the efforts of the Commission to negotiate a framework agreement with Kosovo for its participation in EU- programs were welcomed.

Minister Çitaku said that “this adoption is of particular importance because it paves the way to materialization of Kosovo’s European agenda by enabling opening of negotiations for a Stabilization and Association Agreement and paves the way for Kosovo to take part in the EU programs.” Minister emphasized that this will lead to the formalization of relations between Kosovo and EU marking the first contractual step between both parties.”  She also added that this “achievement would not have been possible without support of the broad political spectrum and immense work of all institutions involved in this process”.

During meetings, Minister Çitaku informed respective ministers on the recent political developments in Kosovo, with a particular focus on the presently completed dialogue for normalization of relations between Republic of Kosovo and Serbia. In relation to this issue, it was particularly discussed the Kosovo’s European agenda, progress in fulfilling short term criteria for the beginning of the negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement and progress in fulfilling criteria of the Visa Liberalization Roadmap.

Minister Çitaku thanked respective Ministers for the up to date support for Kosovo within the process of the European Integration.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs underlined the importance of achieving agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Serbia and highly praised constructivism and Kosovo’s commitment for building of good neighbour relations as one of the basic conditions in the process of membership in the European Union. Ministers also discussed the way in front of Kosovo in the framework of Stabilization and Association Agreement and Visa Liberalization dialogue.