Conference European Forum: Kosovo on the road to EU Membership

Date and venue: 20-21 June 2009, Pristina, Kosovo
Guest speakers: Arjen Berkvens, European Forum; Jakup Krasniqi, president of the Kosovo Assembly ; Jan Marinus Wiersma, vice-president of the PES group in the European Parliament; Teuta Sahatqija, President of Partia Reformiste (ORA); Agim Ceku, President of Social Democratic Party of Kosovo (PSD); Nenad Maksimovic, board director Centre for Peace and Tolerance (CPT); Burim Ejupi, training and administrative manager Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED); Filip Pavlovic, head of Steering Board FRACTAL; Ramadan Avdiu, member of the Kosovo Assembly for PDK; Ana Radicevic, National Democratic Institute (NDI); Khaldoum Sinno, head of the political, economic and EU integration department of the Commission Liaison Office to Kosovo; Prof. Dr. Hagen Lichtenberg, University of Bremen; Mariam Osman Sherifay, member National board and Municipal Council board in Sundbyberg, Swedish Social Democratic Party (SAP); Naim Hajdari, policy officer European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX).

Political context
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008. Until now 62 out of 192 UN member states recognized Kosovo, including the United States and 22 out of 27 EU countries. Other countries did not recognize Kosovo, including Russia, China, Greece and Spain. Serbia considers Kosovo as an autonomous province and strongly opposes its independence. The position of Serb minority in Kosovo remains a huge challenge, leading to a divided country where the Serbs do no participate in public life, creating parallel institutions, and do not feel secure. Furthermore many other social, economic and political problems exist in Kosovo. The EU has expressed the need to help Kosovo with its problems and to help it integrate in the EU, which will help to achieve regional stability. In 2005 the Commission adopted the Communication to the Council and the European Parliament on “A European future for Kosovo”. In 2008 the Council recalled EU's “willingness to assist the economic and political development of Kosovo through a clear European perspective, in line with the European perspective of the region”. During the same year the EU dispatched the EULEX mission to Kosovo to assist the country in police and judicial matters, to help improve the rule of law, good governance and in developing a multiethnic society. Cooperation within the region will be necessary for Kosovo to integrate with the European Union. Kosovo’s wish to join the EU is difficult as some EU countries have not recognized the country and so the status of the country remains unclear. Despite all problems Kosovo has made progress in political stability and reduced violence against ethnic minorities. During this conference all challenges were discussed as well as Kosovo’s road to EU membership.

Report
On Saturday 20 June the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity organised a conference in Pristina on Kosovo on the road to EU membership. The conference was supported by the British Labour Party through Westminster Foundation for Democracy funds. One of the main aims of the conference was to bring important social democratic political actors from Kosovo, the region and the European Union together in order to discuss the perspectives and opportunities that future EU membership offers to the people in the Western Balkans. Considering the situation it is important to discuss the future of Kosovo in an EU context. The prospect of future EU membership will hopefully go hand in hand with more security, improved minority rights, better economic prospects, less unemployment and improved living conditions in general. The conference was attended by more than 70 participants. Representatives from almost all affiliated parties in the region were present, as well as representatives from some EU countries, NGO’s and international organisations.

Opening
The conference began with introductory speeches by Jakup Krasniqi, president of the Kosovo Assembly, and Jan Marinus Wiersma, vice-president of the PES group in the European Parliament. Krasniqi stressed the importance of Kosovo moving towards integration with the European Union. He said Kosovo is working hard to address the issues in its country and sees the problems of the country as a problem of the whole region. In that regard he asked Serbia to normalize relations with Kosovo and stop blocking Kosovo from participating in international institutions. By doing that Serbia is damaging the interests of the citizens of Kosovo. Furthermore, EU countries not yet recognizing Kosovo should do so, as that would ease the process towards EU integration. Integration with the EU is necessary in order to achieve peace in the region. The second speaker, Wiersma, said that much has to be done in Kosovo, such as investments in education. He agreed with Krasniqi that it’s logical for Kosovo to work towards the goal of integration with the EU, as the country is locked in between European countries. He stressed that Kosovo should be active in working towards that goal, but also the EU should support and help Kosovo to develop its democratic institutions for instance. Wiersma believes it is possible to develop a multiethnic society in Kosovo and thinks the EU should continue to help Kosovo develop towards EU membership, especially if this has been promised for already. He concluded that the gap between Kosovo and the EU will need to close the coming years, stressing that special attention needs to be given to Kosovo as it’s a special country. After the opening speeches there was room for questions and remarks. Avni Mazrreku of the PDK agreed with the previous speakers, and highlighted the importance of Kosovo is not able to participate in international institutions.

Panel I: Kosovo: current situation, challenges and solutions
After the introductory speeches three panels consisting of representatives from different parties and organisations discussed several themes. The first panel discussed the current situation in Kosovo, the challenges and the solutions for these challenges. Teuta Sahatqija, President of Partia Reformiste (ORA), was the first speaker of this panel. She stated that Kosovo is not fully stable yet, especially courts are not functioning well and corruption is high. The absence of stable political institutions and lack of women in the cabinet is another problem. Furthermore political parties in the country are not ready to participate in international institutions. She said that the EULEX mission challenges participation of Serbs and the development of the country. Participation in the EU and NATO is important for the citizens of Kosovo and she hopes the EU will later fully recognize Kosovo, as the status quo is dangerous and not desirable. Furthermore she said that the EU should consider visa liberalization with Kosovo. This is rather difficult as not all EU countries have recognized Kosovo.

The second speaker in this panel was Agim Ceku, President of Social Democratic Party of Kosovo (PSD). He also stressed the objective of Kosovo to integrate in the international community as Sahatqija said. He said the EU opened the perspective for Kosovo to join the EU, and talks about visa liberalization are taking place. How fast this will go will depend on how fast Kosovo will adopt necessary changes. He stressed that the EU is tired in the Balkans and that Kosovo is not on its priority list. He addressed seven challenges for Kosovo to work on; make the state function, legal status (recognition), justice and order, economic development, good governance, the international role in Kosovo and the absence of a roadmap to EU membership.

The third speaker of the panel was Nenad Maksimovic, board director Centre for Peace and Tolerance (CPT). Maksimovic asked “what has Kosovo done from the Serbian point of view?” There are two challenges: First, not integration is needed but improving quality of life in Serbian communities is necessary, for example the unemployment. Kosovo should stop discouraging Serbs from participating in society and politics. He encouraged working towards a balance between Belgrade and Pristina, and to make sure there is cooperation between the Serbian authorities in Kosovo and the Kosovar government. Second challenge is the participation in local elections. Municipal leaders will get into conflict after centralization will take place, what is the solution? According to Maksimovic the Serbian community has to be strengthened. There are no Serbs in big cities and this is a problem. The international community and government should actively work on this he concluded.

The fourth speaker of this panel was Burim Ejupi, training and administrative manager for the Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED). He reiterated the sentiments expressed by the previous speakers. In addition he addressed the question raised by Maksimovic; he said the Kosovo constitution did the same for the Serb community as well as for the Albanians. Ejupi also stressed the importance of liberalization of visa’s and changing passports to biometric standards. Further he added that social services and public opinion are important for Kosovo.

After these speeches there was room for questions and remarks. Ceku answered the question of Maksimovic, saying that Kosovo did a lot for Serbs. They can work anywhere, safety is guaranteed, there are no incidents and they can always return to the homes where they’ve lived before. We have achieved tolerance Ceku said. The biggest problem is that Serbs refuse Kosovo’s help. Sahatqija said Serbs are missing in meetings and Serb women have no work. “We did enough, we ask the Serbian community to come out from isolation.” Then Krasniqi reacted on the previous speakers, saying that 10 years ago a new reality was created. We want to join the EU, do not forget there are countries with old traditions that still encounter difficulties. Also Kosovo can not be compared with other countries in the region. The perspectives and opportunities should be equal for everyone (Serbs and Albanians), and perceptions of fear can not be removed by us. Serbs choose isolation, they can integrate and they should use these rights. Maksimovic reacted by saying that Serbs do feel insecure and there are still incidents. According to him the return of Serbs is not satisfactory, sentiments about equal opportunities and giving them money to return is political marketing. He stressed that there are Serbian structures that help Serbs, cooperation should be above confrontation with the Serbs. Wiersma said that the minority problem is important and cooperation between all of the parties is necessary. He said to be angered by the fact that private initiatives are made political. Kosovo has to find a way forward itself, its citizens have to be the priority of Kosovo. Besa Luzha, representative of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, said the word multiethnicity is a misconception, as everyone should learn the official language. Adding that it would be good to see more discussions between political parties. Finally, Prof. Dr. Hagen Lichtenberg, University of Bremen, made the remark that when a minority rejects measures then the policy of minority protection is over. It is necessary that a minority feels part of a state. A representative from the PES group in the European Parliament and from the PDK Youth regretted that so many talked about the ethnic problems, as there are many other problems that are important too.

Panel II: Kosovo in a regional context
The first speaker of this panel was Filip Pavlovic, head of Steering Board FRACTAL. FRACTAL is an organization that works on improving communication and relations between people from different ethnic backgrounds. Pavlovic said that it’s important to consider common concerns. When talking about the EU we are talking about peace and expectations of integration with Europe are high in Kosovo. There are some important issues that affect the whole region, for example organized crime, and this is directly related to the process of democratization. Further there is no cross border cooperation between civil societies, there is a need for strong regional networks to solve these kind of problems. The issue of the Balkan image is also important, as someday all Balkan countries will be in the EU. He appealed to the people from Europe to have the courage to work and establish regional forums, but for that to happen relations between Belgrade and Pristina have to be demystified.

The second speaker of the panel was Ramadan Avdiu, Member of the Kosovo Assembly. Avdiu stressed the importance of respect for rights, law, good governance, free media and cooperation with international institutions. Kosovo is an undeveloped country and a new reality has shown the hard work of international institutions. Two things are important: sovereignty of Kosovo is unreturnable and Kosovo should join the EU together with other countries from the region. Kosovo’s position right now remains unclear because there is no recognition by some countries. Furthermore, Kosovo is not included in regional cooperation and this is a problem. He highlighted the importance of communication, also with countries that did not recognize the Kosovo. Avdiu concluded by saying he is positive Kosovo will join the EU in the future.

After these speeches there was the possibility to react and ask questions. Ana Radicevic, representative of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), said it’s important to focus on democratization and to work with political parties on policy development. She underlined the lack of knowledge on the situation, and is glad NGO’s are informing people. Political leaders are important in that regard, especially in connecting people from Serbia and Kosovo. Karolina Leakovic, representing SDP Croatia, said democratization is an important development. However problematic is the low trust in political parties, people vote for people and not for parties. Education and social systems are important in this regard, but ethnicity remains a problem. Avni Mazrreku said Kosovo will be like a big prison when there will be no visa liberalization, stressing the need to find a solution for this. A representative from the PES group in the European Parliament said that Kosovo can only join the EU when it will be ready in the economic and democratic sense. Good relations within the region are necessary, as the EU does not want to accept a country that has internal or external conflicts, peaceful solutions are the basis of the EU. Kosovo should not only try to satisfy the EU but also improve its country for itself. It’s important for Kosovo to develop good relations with political parties in Europe. Avdiu remarked that communication is the key to achieve integration in Kosovo. Pavlovic said that to achieve reconciliation in the country trust should be rebuild and steps should be taken to create the right conditions for EU accession.

Panel III: Kosovo and the European Union
First speaker was Khaldoum Sinno, head of the political, economic and EU integration department of the Commission Liaison Office in Kosovo. Sinno said that there is a need in Kosovo to focus on recognition and visa liberalization. Further economic development and energy are also very important for Kosovo. It’s important for Kosovo first to fulfil the necessary conditions before EU agrees to further integration. He added that the process is not only a political process, but for a great degree also a technical process, and that’s exactly where a lot of effort is necessary. He finished by saying that the EU will be in Kosovo for a long time to come, if not forever.

Prof. Dr. Lichtenberg, from the University of Bremen, continued focusing on developments that are necessary for EU membership. The EU has stated that Kosovo is elective for membership, however the criteria should be fulfilled first. The EU will not take the same risks with regard to accession as seen before with other countries. The main issues that need to be resolved for Kosovo to be able to enter the EU are political, economic and relationship with Serbia.

Mariam Osman Sherifay, member National board and Municipal Council board in Sundbyberg for the Swedish Social Democratic Party, talked about human rights. She stressed the importance of human rights and a humane approach to issues in Kosovo in order to address the most important issues.

Naim Hajdari, policy officer for EULEX, talked about the EULEX mission in Kosovo. The mandate of EULEX is focused on the need of Kosovo for international support and on Kosovo to be supported by the biggest mission the EU ever had. The specialized mandate of EULEX is focused on the judiciary, police, custom system and has the objective to create stable institutions, a multiethnic society and international standards among other things.

After these speeches there was the possibility to react and ask questions. One question was what would be the best way to go with regard to regional cooperation. Prof. Dr. Lichtenberg answered by saying that the EU has not yet succeeded integrating the new member states and that this will be a long process, especially as these countries are not ready yet.

Closing remarks were made by chair Arjen Berkvens, Secretary-General of the European Forum, thanking all who made the conference possible, the participants for the debate and praising the high turnout.

Workshops
Continuing on Sunday 21 June there were two workshops on the topics of the conference. The first workshop was on the Copenhagen criteria and Western Balkans by Prof. Dr. Hagen Lichtenberg. He addressed the main Copenhagen criteria, namely the political economic and acquis communautaire criteria. He then discussed these criteria in the regional context. Romania and Bulgaria did not fulfil the criteria, admittance was merely a political decision not based on the criteria. With regard to Kosovo he said that the political and economic criteria are not yet fulfilled. The second workshop was on EU engagement in Kosovo by Dr. Avni Mazrreku, he discussed the Kosovo road to EU integration and the EU activities in Kosovo. He said that the main problem of Kosovo lies in the competences of the local governments. Further he said that there is confusion between the many agencies of EU that are active in Kosovo, therefore communication is the main issue that could be improved.

Conclusions and recommendations
It became clear during the conference that there are still many challenges in Kosovo. Notable issues that have to be addressed in Kosovo are the ethnic and minority issues (cooperation and integration between Albanians and Serbs), the rule of law, corruption, absence of stable political institutions, legal recognition of Kosovo and economic development. Especially the ethnicity issue still provides for heated debate and divides the country in two communities. Albanians feel they are doing enough to include and help integrate the Serbian minority in the country, while the Serb minority feels unsafe and isolated. This is an issue that has to be solved before many other problems can be addressed. Furthermore the issue of Kosovo is a problem of the whole region. Regional cooperation is necessary to achieve further improvements within the country, as well as make integration with the EU possible. In that regard it is clear that Kosovo has still a lot of work to do. It will not only depend on the EU whether Kosovo will join the EU or not, but also on how fast Kosovo will adopt and implement changes. At this point, however, the criteria for EU membership are not yet fulfilled. The main solution for Kosovo is to improve cooperation and communication with all ethnic groups, political parties, within the region (Serbia foremost) and with the EU.