EU will ask Kosovo to make up for time lost during its political crisis

Brussels, 12 December 2014 (MIA) - In its draft recommendations about Kosovo, the European Council will commend the end of political uncertainty in the country and the election of a new Government. Assembled European leaders will ask Kosovo to now move forward and make up for lost time in both domestic reforms and its negotiations with Serbia, MIA correspondent from Brussels reports.

The draft conclusions of the Council, that are due next Friday, note that the European Union and Kosovo have initiated their first all-encompassing treaty with the Stabilization and association agreement signed in July. The treaty remains unsigned, given that five EU member states still don't recognize Europe's youngest independent state.

Issues that the Council will ask Kosovo to work on will include improvement in the rule of law and judicial independence, its fight against corruption and organized crime and reforms needed for visa free travel to Europe that should reduce migration risks if visa liberalization is implemented. Kosovo should undertake structural economic reforms to alleviate its very high unemployment rate and also work on election laws and protection of minorities.

As in the case of Serbia, Kosovo will be judged on the developments in the negotiations between the two countries, the good will it will show and the respect for the agreed treaties, as both countries try to get closer to Europe.