The outgoing European Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, stated that the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, had told him after blocking membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania, that it was not clear why he would be further motivated to continue the dialogue with Kosovo.
Hahn said this in an interview with the Financial Times, and the newspaper assessed that such a stance was a blow to the EU, which spent almost 10 years trying to mediate talks between Kosovo and Serbia.
He said that the dialogue blockade came at a time when efforts should be increased to make the EU a stronger global player, as well as the loss of influence "in a region where it is said that China and Russia will fill the EU's absence".
Hahn added that the most surprising thing for him was that the EU had not shown that it always adheres to the "principle of responsibility" and warned that if the EU does not recognize the progress of countries, then there will be no further push for reforms.
Otherwise, Hahn said he was proud of the progress made during his tenure in advancing ties between the countries of the region -- Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia -- which are still struggling to overcome the wars and upheavals of the 1990s.
"Leadership meetings have become common," Hahn said, welcoming the fact that the leaders of North Macedonia, Albania and Serbia have taken the initiative to remove customs barriers to trade, reports KosovaPress.
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Hahn: The European perspective will have a direct impact on the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia
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Vucic tells Hahn that Serbia is committed to maintaining peace in the region
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Hahn: European perspectives, motivation to start Kosovo-Serbia dialogue
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Hahn: The stalling of the dialogue with Kosovo does not stop the European integration of Serbia
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Commissioner Hahn offers solutions to continue the dialogue in Brussels