Commission Approves Stability Deal for Kosovo

Bekim Collaku, Kosovo's Minister of European Integration, said the European Commission had adopted a Stabilization and Association Agreement, SAA, proposal with Kosovo  on Thursday and sent it for approval to the Council of European Union.

"We welcome such a decision, which brings Kosovo closer to signing an SAA and closer to EU integration," Collaku told BIRN.

Ulrike Lunacek, the European Parliament's rapporteur on Kosovo, called on the Council to adopt the SAA as soon as possible and no later than mid-2015.

She said ratification of the SAA by the European Parliament would then be possible in the autumn, and the SAA could enter into force as of 2016.

"This is very good news and another important step on Kosovo's path to EU integration. For the first time the EU and Kosovo will enter into a contractual agreement," she said.

"I am calling for a speedy process because the SAA will provide a powerful incentive for the implementation and institutionalization of reforms and new possibilities for Kosovo to strengthen relations with its neighbours and contribute to the stabilization of the region," Lunacek wrote in a statement.

Reactions to the news were positive in Kosovo, although it remains unclear exactly when the agreement will be signed and ratified.

Approval of the SAA by the European Commission and its recommendation to the Council represents only the technical aspect. The political aspect to the SAA will be decided in the Council and is more complex.

The foreign ministers at the European Council will need to reach a unanimous decision to accept the SAA for Kosovo - which will be difficult considering that five EU countries do not recognize Kosovo's independence.

Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain...