Serbia Must Recognise Kosovo to Join EU, MEP

While "normalization" of ties between Serbia and Kosovo is a key criterion for each side's hopes of European integration, MEPs remain divided on whether  "normalized" relations must include mutual diplomatic recognition. Ulrike Lunacek, European Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo, on Monday that Serbia would have to recognise the independence of its former province before joining the EU because the club does not want “a second Cyprus. “Even the non-recognisers [of Kosovo's independence] won’t accept Serbia in the EU if Serbia does not recognize it [Kosovo] because that would mean something like Cyprus,” she added. The EU allowed Cyprus to join in 2004 although the island remains remains divided into Greek and Turkish areas. Many European politicians have since decribed this as a mistake, as the Cyprus government has used its position inside the EU to isolate Turkish Cypriots. “The ideal thing would be to have both countries joining at the same time," the MEP said, referring to Kosovo and Serbia."The problem is that because of history … on many levels Kosovo is further backwards than other countries,” Lunacek continued. The MEP was commenting in a panel discussion on Monday on “Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia: Reconciliation and a common future in the European Union.” Kosovo declared independence in 2008 but Serbia has refused to recognize it. Kosovo is also not recognized by five EU states: Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania, and Greece. In March 2011, the EU launched a dialogue on normalizing relations between Pristina and Belgrade, which resulted with an agreement last April that paved the way for Serbia to start EU membership talks. At the same time, Kosovo started a dialogue on a Stabilization and Association Agreement, SAA, the first step towards eventual membership. The future of the dialogue, led by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, remains unclear. Ilir Deda, from the Kosovar Institute for Policy, Research and Development, a Pristina-based NGO, said there was “growing fatigue with this process in various capitals. "There is a demand for fresh ideas on how to bring forward the German request for a legally binding treaty between both countries, which excludes mutual recognition,” Deda said.