Lunacek: The EP must continue to push for visa liberalisation for Kosovo

Seven years after declaring independence, Kosovo still faces many challenges such as poor economic prospects and high unemployment rates, while five EU countries have not recognized it as a country. MEPs vote today on a resolution on Kosovo's European integration process, drafted by Austrian Greens/EFA member Ulrike Lunacek. The European Parliament talked to her about the situation in the country ahead of the vote. 

Thousands of people from Kosovo have been crossing the Serbian-Hungarian border in search of better lives in the EU. How do you see this?

There are several reasons why so many Kosovo citizens have been leaving their home country. Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans whose citizens are not allowed to travel freely to the EU for three months. Europe's youngest state is not yet – seven years after the declaration of independence – a fully-fledged member of the international community. Then the new government in December 2014 did not fulfill the expectations of the majority of citizens for change, for more jobs, a better health and education system and so on.

My report calls on the government in Pristina to take concrete steps towards providing its citizens with a future in a thriving Kosovo.

It also shows that the EP must continue to push for visa liberalization, the most tangible thing people understand and can experience first-hand. The fears of some EU member states that Kosovo citizens would "flood" those countries are unfounded: this did not happen with any of the other five Western Balkan states that were subject to visa liberalization since 2010.

The EU has actively participated in the international effort to reconstruct and develop Kosovo since 1999 and is its largest donor. What else can be done? Is the government in Kosovo doing its fair share?

Seven years after declaring independence Kosovo is still not a fully-fledged independent republic. The EU's positive impact on Kosovo is significantly weakened by this, for instance in joint efforts to fight corruption and organized crime. 
My report again urges the remaining five EU countries to recognize Kosovo without delay.

Concerning the government in Kosovo, my report also includes calls to strengthen the fight against corruption and organized crime and for the continuation of a constructive dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade as well as for tangible progress on boosting the rule of law and media freedom. There can be no progress in the fight against corruption without positive cooperation between EULEX and the Kosovo authorities, including the government.

The country is one of the poorest in Europe and 35% of its population does not have a job. What other challenges do people there face? Can EU integration help?

Hopes and expectations of the EU and its players were very high, but the EU definitely has not lived up to these expectations. And the economic crisis, unemployment, especially among young people, have exacerbated the disillusion with the political system at home in Kosovo.

And yes, EU integration is the key for stabilizing Kosovo and the entire region. The vote in favour of the resolution by a clear majority of the EP's Foreign Affairs committee and - hopefully - the EP as a whole this week shows strong support for Kosovo’s European future.

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