Kasapolli: Without the CSM and formation of institutions, there will be no lifting of measures or progress for Kosovo toward the EU

Political analyst Gezim Kasapolli says that unless the situation with institutions in Kosovo changes and there is progress regarding the Community of Serb Municipalities, one should not expect the European Union to lift its measures, nor any movement for Kosovo on the path of European integration. He told Kosovo Online that European Council President Antonio Costa, during his visit to Kosovo, reiterated what the EU has been saying for some time now, that stability must be maintained.

Kasapolli noted that Costa conveyed the same messages as others before him.

“As far as Kosovo is concerned, Mr. Costa reiterated what we already know, namely, the message from the European Union that stability must be preserved here in Kosovo and that Kosovo is making progress in terms of European integration. But I don't see anything happening soon, because you can see what is going on with our institutions and our Assembly. I believe Mr. Costa just wanted to see firsthand what is happening here, as well as the plans of Kosovo’s institutions regarding peace, the situation here, and their plans for continuing the European integration process,” Kasapolli emphasized.

He pointed out that the previous government had not had a concrete plan moving forward.

“The problem is that we now also have these EU sanctions that have entered into our system because of what this government did. So, unless this situation is reset to where it was before, I don’t believe the European Union will lift these measures,” he stressed.

He added that it had been easy for the EU to impose measures on Kosovo, but it would be difficult to build a consensus to lift them.

“So, the progress of this region, especially Kosovo, is in some sense predetermined by our own actions. If we don’t restore the previous state of affairs, where the Serbian population participates in governance, particularly in those Serb-majority municipalities, and if there is no progress regarding the CSM, then I don’t believe the measures will be lifted, nor will Kosovo be able to move forward in terms of European integration,” Kasapolli concluded for Kosovo Online.