Borrell: “EU have invested one billion euro in Kosovo. I will not compete with Americans, we will work together”

EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said after arriving in Pristina that he is here to help Kosovo-Serbia dialogue without competing with the United States and promised to work together with the US envoys to normalise relations between Pristina and Belgrade.

Borrell said in Pristina that he will not compete with Americans and promised to work together with Washington on the dialogue on normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. He made the comments when asked whether the EU was left aside when US President Donald Trump’s envoy on dialogue, Richard Grenell, brokered deals last week to resume air and railway traffic between Kosovo and Serbia. “Americans have many plans. They have a plan for the Middle East, Korea and here. It is one thing to have a plan and something else to engage and succeed. We [the EU] have invested one billion euro in Kosovo. I will not compete with Americans, we will work together,” Borrell said in Pristina. “We maybe are not outspoken but we are involved a lot in the dialogue,” Borrell said. He also said that it is not up to him to convince five EU countries which have not recognized Kosovo to change their position. “I represent the EU. We will not impose an agreement,” he said. 

Asked why he has not met the EU special envoy on dialogue, Richard Grenell, and whether they are on the same line when it comes to the dialogue, Borrell promised to work jointly with the US envoy. “We are facilitating the dialogue, also Mr. Grenell is doing the same. We are not competing, we want to work together,” he said.

Kosovo president Hashim Thaci said that it is vital for Kosovo the EU be united when it comes to the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. “In order to have tangible results in dialogue US-EU coordination is needed, success is not guaranteed without this cooperation. The US role is irreplaceable. [US envoy] Grenell did an extraordinary work. A final agreement is vital for the Western Balkans, Thaci said.  

The EU’s High Representative said the European Union expects Kosovo form its government soon after early elections held in October 2019. “Kosovars are free to decide on their fate. They should create the government. A new government should be created as soon as possible. The president informed me that this will happen very soon, and I am happy about it,” Borrell said. Borrell also mentioned no deadline on visa liberalization for Kosovo citizens adding that it is up to the EU member countries to decide. “Kosovo has fulfilled all the conditions and it is right time to make a move and complete the technical requirements. We have supported Kosovo. We have invested millions. Today we will offer 75 million euro to eliminate harmful emission from the coal-fueled power plant,” Borrell said. /GazetaExpress/