{"id":5395,"date":"2019-05-09T16:26:38","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T16:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan.thatscommunication.de\/the-eu-and-its-unfulfilled-promises-to-kosovo\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T19:01:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:01:10","slug":"the-eu-and-its-unfulfilled-promises-to-kosovo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan.thatscommunication.de\/en\/the-eu-and-its-unfulfilled-promises-to-kosovo\/","title":{"rendered":"The EU and its Unfulfilled Promises to Kosovo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kosovars had very high hopes for the EU. They have been repeatedly disappointed. Kosovo citizens are still denied freedom of travel in Europe. A commentary by Vjosa \u00c7erkini, Argjir Dubova, Gentiana Krasniqi. <\/em><\/p>\n

Today is Europe Day! Kosovo is the only country in Europe to observe this day as a public holiday. Furthermore, the anthem of the State of Kosovo is named ‘Europe’, and the blue colour of the flag of the Republic of Kosovo is also associated with the European Union. The great desire to be part of the large family of the European Union is one of the greatest hopes of Kosovo’s citizens. Since the end of the war, we have heard about Kosovo’s integration processes into the European Union and have been waiting for visa liberalisation<\/a> for more than ten years. <\/p>\n

Overall, we have fulfilled 95 criteria. Other Western Balkan countries have fulfilled fewer, yet have enjoyed freedom of travel for years. Why are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia more privileged than Kosovo, allowing their citizens to move freely? <\/p>\n

Corruption, nepotism, as well as social, political, judicial, and socio-economic life in the individual countries of Southeast Europe (referred to as the Western Balkans in EU jargon) are, with minor differences, comparable to the conditions in Kosovo.<\/p>\n

We, the citizens of Kosovo, have felt lied to and betrayed for more than ten years, not only by our own politicians but also by European ones. We cannot visit any of Europe’s great cultural centres such as Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Rome, and others, even though we live geographically in Europe. We are denied the right to visit relatives in the diaspora. <\/p>\n

There is only one reason for this: because we were born in Kosovo, a state that they have excluded for as long as possible for various reasons.<\/p>\n

What fear do the European Union states have that leads them to block Kosovo? What concept was planned for Kosovo after the 1999 intervention to liberate Kosovo from Serbia? Or do you judge us by our religious affiliation? <\/p>\n

During the time of former Yugoslavia, our parents could move freely everywhere, but today, in the 21st century, we have to wait for months for an appointment at EU country embassies to apply for a visa<\/a>. What we cannot understand is the European Union’s constant support for Serbia, despite Serbia’s ongoing provocations against Kosovo. <\/p>\n

Serbia Continues to Block Kosovo<\/h5>\n

Serbia’s blockades of the State of Kosovo are evident at every step Kosovo takes towards membership in international organisations, such as UNESCO<\/a>, admission to Interpol<\/a>, and other institutions. Furthermore, EU officials do not react to the negative agitation by the State of Serbia towards other countries, aimed at withdrawing their recognition of Kosovo. <\/p>\n

The only action taken was by our government, not the EU, through the introduction of a 100 per cent tax on Serbian and Bosnian products. On the contrary, a large part of the European Union protested against this effective measure. Kosovo itself faces problems exporting its goods due to obstructions by some neighbouring states. Yet, there is no protest from the EU against this! We demand an answer from the EU: why is Serbia, the convicted aggressor of the Balkan wars, constantly supported, and not the victims? <\/p>\n

In a scene from ‘The Hunger Games’ film series, President Snow tells Seneca Crane that ‘hope is stronger than fear’. This means that if people lose hope, things in ‘Capitol’ can worsen, and consequently, leaders lose credibility. <\/p>\n

Hope is Stronger Than Fear<\/h5>\n

If Kosovo Albanians lost everything during the war, ‘hope’ was still stronger than ‘fear’. The dream of a better life kept the citizens of Kosovo alive. However, this hope for a path to a normal life has suffered many setbacks since the war. Trust in Kosovo’s institutions was never high due to widespread corruption. People placed more hope in the EU institutions in Kosovo. <\/p>\n

However, this trust, especially in the ‘EULEX’ mission in Kosovo, has declined following the report by the European Court of Auditors, which sharply criticised it for high costs, unachieved improvements, and, on the contrary, internal corruption incidents. This trust and hope of Kosovo’s citizens for improvement have almost vanished, and so it is not surprising today that a large number of our citizens have emigrated or wish to emigrate to other countries. This is an expression of the widespread hopelessness that now prevails. <\/p>\n

It would be easy for the European Union to elevate the small country of Kosovo to the same status as the other countries of Southeast Europe, thereby restoring hope and self-respect to Kosovar citizens.<\/p>\n

Copyright Feature Image: Bardha Gogoa<\/p>\n

About the Authors: Vjosa \u00c7erkini, journalist and initiator PoE Kosovo
\nArgjir Dubova, risk management specialist and initiator PoE Kosovo
\nGentiana Krasniqi, Deputy Federal Chairwoman Paneuropa-Jugend Deutschland <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kosovars had very high hopes for the EU. They have been repeatedly disappointed. Kosovo citizens are still denied freedom of travel in Europe. 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