The dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo under EU auspices has been an example of what EU diplomacy can really achieve, the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton told European Parliament in the debate on foreign and defence policy.
“We showed the real possibilities of what EU diplomacy could do in helping to resolve the long standing issues between Serbia and Kosovo,” Ashton said.
“From the beginning of this Dialogue I have facilitated 23 rounds of negotiation, total of 230 hours. I give all credit to the courageous leaders on both sides. In concrete terms, we have seen the successful holding of local elections across the whole of Kosovo, and the integration of security and justice structures into the Kosovo legal framework,” she added.
The results have led to opening accession negotiations with Serbia and launching Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiations with Kosovo and the dialogue will become more and more part of both parties integration paths, the High Representative said.
“I, and the European Union, remain fully committed and engaged in that process,” she said, expressing a hope that this “will serve as inspiration and give momentum to others in the Western Balkans.”
Summing up her four year mandate, Ashton said that EU’s “neighbourhood policy has been tested as never before first in the events that happened in what has become known as the Arab Spring or Arab awakening in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria and of course most recently in the events in the East with Ukraine.”
“The prospect of signing the Agreement with Ukraine, everyone knows, triggered a series of events that means today we are facing the most tense and difficult situation in our neighbourhood since the end of the Cold War,” she added.
Ashton also emphesised achievements of March 26 EU-US summit, saying it “was an opportunity to reaffirm our strong partnership with the United States. Our cooperation is unparalleled because of its depth and breadth.”
