Von der Leyen: Kosovo deserves visa liberalisation

Описание: (27 Oct 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pristina - 27 October 2022
1. Various of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani greeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
2. Honour guard
3. Various of meeting
4. Kosovo flag
5. Wide of Osmani and von der Leyen going for news conference
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President:
"I hear you loud and clear on the topic of the visa liberalisation. And, you know, you have an ally in the commission and me personally to that topic. You're right. I think Kosovo deserves the visa liberalisation. I know how important it is for you. You have fulfilled all the benchmarks. And indeed, it was our assessment already in July. But also, now we have reaffirmed that in July 2018, but we have reaffirmed now that you have fulfilled all the necessary criteria, and we stand by it. Now, our task is to convince the whole of the European Council, many members of the European Council are on your side, and it is very good that this discussion has restarted. We will work very intensively with the Czech presidency. It needs a lot of diplomatic effort and explanation and work back and forth. But you can count on me personally, you can count on us in the commission that we will do everything to help you on your way of knowing that you are doing this impressive work."
7. News conference
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ursula von der Leyen,  European Commission President: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"Your second question was and is on the license plates, so very briefly but very clear, I think it is paramount that rules have to be followed, there are rules and laws, and they have to be followed in every county, and at the same time if there is a transition period, the transition has to be smooth, it has to be inclusive. I know that work is going on the solution, and I commend on the efforts on the contexts of the dialogue that is supported by our EU special representative."
9. News conference
10. SOUNDBITE (Albanian) Vjosa Osmani, President of Kosovo:
"All we are doing is that we are applying the law and we are protecting our citizens regardless of the ethnicity and as a result Serbia is threatening with violence and barricades and as you know it's a violation of freedom of movement. We will work with all our allies not to let these Russian scenarios have a place in the Western Balkans, and even though Serbia decided to go along and dance to Putin's (Russian President) melodies we will not let them have an impact on disrupting and destabilizing our region."
11. News conference ending
STORYLINE
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived early Thursday in Kosovo, and met with President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
The EU Commission chief expressed support for visa liberalisation, saying that Kosovo has fulfilled all the benchmarks asked for by the EU.
"You have an ally in the commission and me personally to that topic," von der Leyen told a joint news conference with Osmani in Pristina.
"You're right. I think Kosovo deserves the visa liberalisation."
Von der Leyen's tour of Western Balkan region is aimed at reassuring six Balkan nations that the European Union remains attached to the region, and it can count on the bloc to help tackle the current energy crisis.
Von der Leyen revealed an EU support package for the whole of the Western Balkan region to tackle the energy crisis, beginning with a 75 million euro grant for Kosovo as immediate budget support, to address the impact of rising prices on citizens and businesses.
The EU Commission chief said more help would come.
Clients are reminded:

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...