PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s leaders on Wednesday signed an official application seeking candidate status for European Union membership amid a long-running dispute with neighboring Serbia, which immediately called on the block to cancel the process.
Kosovo’s president, president and prime minister officially signed the candidacy letter they intend to deliver to Czechia, which holds the rotating EU presidency, on Thursday.
“It’s the opening of a new chapter,” said Prime Minister Albin Kurti. “Progress will depend on our commitment to deep and transformative reforms that strengthen our democracy and our economy.
The process for Kosovo, the latest Western Balkan country to apply to join the 27-member bloc, is likely to be long and difficult, not least because of tensions with Serbia.
Kosovo is a predominantly ethnic Albanian territory that declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The Serbian government has refused to recognize Kosovo’s statehood and still considers it part of Serbia, although it does not exercises no formal control over it.
Serbia reacted angrily to Kosovo’s EU bid and officials said they would ask the five EU states that have not recognized Kosovo, as well as Hungary, to block the EU bid. initiative in Brussels. The five are Greece, Spain, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus.
EU expansion has stalled in recent years. But since Russia attacked Ukraine in late February, EU officials have stressed that stepping up the bloc’s engagement with Western Balkan nations is more crucial than ever to keeping Europe safe. .
Six nations in the region are at different stages of applying for membership.
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Semini reported from Tirana, Albania; Dusan Stojanovic contributed from Belgrade.
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