French Minister: Kosovo’s Progress toward EU Depends on Fulfilling Brussels Agreement

Kosovo flag

Benjamin Haddad, French minister delegate for European affairs, said in Pristina on July 27 that Kosovo's progress toward European Union integration and membership in international organizations depends on meeting international obligations, including the fulfillment of the Brussels Agreement and continuation of reforms.

Speaking at a joint news conference after meeting with Glauk Konjufca, acting foreign minister of Kosovo, Haddad received the question whether the institutional deadlock in Kosovo could affect its European integration process. Haddad said France supports Kosovo's membership in international institutions, while stressing that the process is a demanding one that requires meeting obligations that have been undertaken. "We support the integration of Kosovo within international institutions. This is more broadly part of our project to reunify Europe [...] This process, it's a demanding one. It's based on international commitments," Haddad said.

According to him, one of the key elements is progress in carrying out the obligations from the Brussels Agreement. He added that the process was a merit-based one, which means that it entails reforms, alignment with EU legislation, strengthening the rule of law and the protection of minority rights. "And we will be very demanding on this," he added.

Before the news conference, the two ministers had a meeting where they signed five agreements on cooperation between Kosovo and France. The documents signed include a letter of intent on establishing the Kosovan-French Community to support the organization of the Mediterranean Games in 2030, an administrative agreement on teaching the French language in Kosovo, the Agreement on mutual legal aid in criminal matters, the Agreement on extradition and the Loan Agreement for the Mediterranean Games project with the French Development Agency.