EUROPEAN UNION OFFICE IN KOSOVO /
EUROPEAN UNION SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
PRESS RELEASE
Second round of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiations with Kosovo held in Pristina
Pristina, 27 November 2013
The second round of negotiations of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the European Union and Kosovo was held today in Pristina. The European Commission's negotiating team, headed by Deputy Director-General of DG Enlargement, Joost Korte, presented the remaining issues of the SAA, which were not covered during the first round, to the Minister of European Integration, Vlora Çitaku, Chief Negotiator, and her team.
The discussions in the second round of negotiations covered articles of the draft Agreement on protection of human and fundamental rights, rule of law, protection of minorities and serious crimes of concern to the international community. Regional and financial cooperation, as well as cooperation in over 20 different areas were also discussed. The negotiating teams also exchanged views on the part of the Agreement covering justice, freedom and security issues, including fight against organised crime, money laundering, migration and asylum, personal data protection and border protection.
Deputy Director-General of DG Enlargement Joost Korte said: "Kosovo needs to continue in reforms outlined in the feasibility study of last year such as rule of law, judiciary, public administration, electoral reform and Assembly, protection of minorities, trade and internal market issues. We also expect that the second round of elections on 1 December runs smoothly and according to the procedures. Kosovo also needs to continue in the constructive engagement in the dialogue with Serbia and needs to implement the reached agreements."
The SAA negotiations between the EU and Kosovo started on 28 October 2013. The first negotiating round focused on areas including free movement of goods, services and capital, freedom of establishment and approximation of legislation. The third round is expected to take place in spring next year.
The SAA represents the first comprehensive contractual relationship between Kosovo and the EU and an important milestone in Kosovo's European integration process. After the Commission considered last April that Kosovo had met all the short-term priorities identified in the 2012 Feasibility study (in the areas of rule of law, public administration, protection of minorities and trade), the Council decided in June 2013 to authorise the opening of negotiations on an SAA.
Following the Lisbon Treaty, which conferred legal personality to the European Union, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement will be concluded in the form of an EU-only agreement. The negotiations will be led by the Commission and the provisions on the political dialogue and the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) will be negotiated by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Through the implementation of the agreement the EU and Kosovo shall gradually establish a bilateral free trade area where free movement of goods, services and capital are mutually guaranteed. Kosovo shall align its legislation with EU rules regarding competition, public procurement, intellectual and industrial property rights, consumer protection and working conditions. The Parties will also cooperate in a number of areas such as social affairs, education, culture, environment and others.
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For more information contact:
Fjolla Çeku-Sylejmani, Information and Communication Officer, ,
038 5131 327;
European Union Office in Kosovo/ EUSR website: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/kosovo