The European Parliament on Wednesday passed a resolution draft related to the process of Kosovo’s European integration that encourages five EU member states, including Romania to recognize the independence of the former Serbian province in order to help normalization of the relations between Belgrade and Pristina. The resolution on Kosovo’s European integration process was drafted by Austrian Greens/EFA member Ulrike Lunacek.
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade is refusing to recognize its former province’s independence. Five EU member states- Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain –haven’t recognize Kosovo’s independence either in an attempt to temper any autonomy claim that would endanger their own territorial integrity.
About two weeks ago, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama lobbied for Romania to recognize Kosovo during a visit in Bucharest, arguing that solving this issue will ensure regional stability and will blur certain “tendencies and frustrations of other neighboring countries.”
“I keep coming with the request to recognize Kosovo as an independent state and I also ask Romania to offer permanent support for this country to become member of this family union. We strongly believe that Kosovo recognition is not a bilateral issue, but a joint matter concerning all of us in the support of ensuring regional security, but also in order to blur certain tendencies and frustrations coming from other neighboring countries,” Edi Rama stated after meeting Romanian PM Victor Ponta at the end of February.