May 3, 2018 | Thursday
On 17 April 2018, the High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn presented the annual Enlargement Package in the European Parliament in Strasbourg
The Enlargement Package, now adopted by the European Commission, includes seven individual assessment reports on EU enlargement policy, based on established criteria and fair and rigorous conditionality.
The Council has decided to open accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania, while also working towards an opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s application. Cooperation with the Kosovo authorities continues through the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
On the same day Ambassador Nataliya Apostolova, Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, presented the 2018 report on the country’s progress. The report found Kosovo to have undertaken preparatory work in the area of public administration reform, in the fight against corruption, and in relation to freedom of expression. However, there has been no progress during the reporting period. The legal framework broadly guarantees the protection of human and fundamental rights, although further action is necessary to enforce people’s rights.
“For Kosovo, no doubt, the work ahead can seem daunting but, with momentum from the WB strategy and with the EU’s renewed commitment and focus, the country can catch up,” said Ambassador Apostolova, during at the report’s launch at EUICC Pristina.
“There have been successes. The ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in March 2018 was an important breakthrough, a long awaited and crucial step towards visa liberalisation. The report gives concrete guidance to Kosovo for the next 12 months, which the institutions should take forward with urgency. This is positive guidance to help Kosovo to move forward. The EU will continue to support Kosovo where there is willingness to make progress,” she added.
Read the report: https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/20180417-kosovo-report.pdf