Fuele: Kosovo has to work more on reforms

PRISTINA - Kosovo has finished the negotiations concerning the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, but it has to work more on reforms and relations with its neighbours, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said on Tuesday.

He told the Kosovo parliament he was pleased to confirm that Kosovo had completed the negotiations on the SAA with the EU on Friday.

Fuele hopes Kosovo will progress enough in reforms and the talks on the normalisation of the relations with Belgrade to sign the SAA next spring.

He commended the Kosovo authorities on the decision to extend the mandate of EULEX and support the creation of a special tribunal that would deal with the crimes described in reports by Council of Europe rapporteur Dick Marty.

It shows that Kosovo is open, has nothing to hide and is not afraid of the past, Fuele stated.

Kosovo faces a lot of work on reforms, especially regarding the rule of law and protection of minorities, as well as building relations with the neighbours, he stressed.

It is crucial for Kosovo's European future that the next election follow international standards, he underscored.

He expects the next government of Kosovo to fulfil its international obligations and be active in the talks with Belgrade.

Fuele met on Tuesday with Kosovo's President Atifeta Jahjaga and Prime Minister Hasim Taci, and he also took part in a meeting of the National Council for EU Integration.

Photo Tanjug/T. Valic (archive)