Dritan Hoti: A key moment to restore the normalcy that existed in the dialogue

A lecturer at the Mediterranean University in Tirana, Dritan Hoti, says that the upcoming EU-Western Balkans Summit will reaffirm the European Union's positions on the region and that topics will focus on the region's economic and institutional development and the European integration of Western Balkan countries. He also emphasizes that this will be a critical moment for "restoring the normalcy in the dialogue" between Belgrade and Pristina.

“This meeting is considered a pivotal moment to return to the normalcy that existed two or three years ago in the dialogue, and everything will be based on the Agreement and the Ohrid Annex from February last year. The EU will demand transparency, for instance, regarding the Banjska incident and the sabotage in northern Kosovo related to the drinking water supply. Kosovo will be asked to coordinate its actions with KFOR. This is what the European Union can do as one of the ‘poles’ of great powers or as one of the ‘actors’ in a world where the United States operates as a superpower and as a distinct ‘pole,’” Hoti explained.

He reminds that the agreement between Pristina and Belgrade defined the status of the Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities and that there is an obligation to recognize the rights of the Serbian population in Kosovo.

When it comes to Kosovo's EU integration, Hoti believes that its case is "different from the standard procedures for joining the European Union."

“Kosovo lags behind in this process because it has only existed as a state since 2008 and still has several EU member states that do not recognize it,” Hoti noted.

Addressing the economic development of the region, which will also be discussed at tomorrow's summit, Hoti mentions that while economic growth undoubtedly creates a certain level of psychological stability, it is not always guaranteed that economic development can overcome ideological positions.

“There was economic growth before World War I, but it failed to prevent the geopolitical crisis caused by differing geopolitical positions and the national interests of traditional European powers. The same applies to the Western Balkan countries, to Serbia, and to what is referred to as the ‘Albanian world,’ which operates on the fundamental principle of putting national interests first. EU membership places these countries in a different institutional environment and provides a different pace of social and economic development, but it is uncertain whether this can ultimately resolve the national and historical differences among the peoples. The European Union's duty is to coordinate its actions in the region with those of the United States, ensuring a unified and binding pressure. Strengthening this pressure would yield more results,” Hoti concluded.