Speech: Boosting Serbia’s and Kosovo’s European future

Text of a speech by Štefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy at the joint debate about the Balkans and the progress reports, European Parliament, 15 January 2014.

Füle praised the progress made by Serbia and Kosovo in 2013 on their path to the EU, in particular their historic agreement reached in April. He said: 'Since they started their integration process with us, both Serbia and Kosovo have advanced significantly in their internal reform process. And their agreement from April is a landmark for the whole region. It is essential that both Serbia and Kosovo continue in the dialogue, continue tackling new challenges and continue the reform process of their societies.'

On 21 January 2014 the first Inter-Governmental Conference will take place.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Additional funding to support the normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-additional-funding-to-support-the-normalisation-between-kosovo-and-serbia/

ESO: Background information: Serbia to start EU membership talks in January http://www.europeansources.info/record/serbia-to-start-eu-membership-talks-in-january/

ESO: Background information: Kosovo’s European integration prospects http://www.europeansources.info/record/kosovos-european-integration-prospects/

ESO: Background information: Serbia: accession negotiations set to start http://www.europeansources.info/record/serbia-accession-negotiations-set-to-start/

European Parliament: Press Release, 16.01.2014: Serbia and Kosovo: MEPs hail progress after historic agreement http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140110IPR32430/

EurActiv, 17.01.14: EU criticised for foot dragging on Kosovo http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/eu-foot-dragging-kosovo-raises-c-news-532826

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