Kosovo signs milestone Association Agreement with EU

(Vatican Radio) Kosovo and the European Union have signed a stabilization and association agreement despite remaining ethnic and political tensions in the small Balkan state.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

At a small ceremony in Strasbourg, France, Kosovo and the European Union inked an accord that Pristina hopes will bring it closer to membership of the EU, Kosovo’s main trading partner.

The milestone agreement will allow local companies to export to EU countries without customs tariffs, making their goods more competitive, seen as crucial for economic progress in one of Europe’s poorest nations.

Moments before signing the agreement in her office, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini acknowledged that it had been difficult negotiations.

Mogherini described the signature as a "very important step that has implied a lot, a lot, of work on both sides." 

Kosovo riotos

Her comments followed opposition backed riots in recent days.

The opposition has demanded that the government renounces EU required deals with Serbia to give more powers to Serb dominated areas in Kosovo, and with nearby Montenegro on border demarcation.

Over the weekend at least one police officer and two protesters were injured in clashes in the capital Pristina a day after the opposition disrupted parliament with tear gas to protest against the  agreements with Serbia and Montenegro.

The opposition also interrupted two other previous parliamentary sessions when it smuggled in tear gas despite tight police checks of everyone entering the building, including diplomats.

Eu trip

Amid the tensions, EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn said he would travel to Kosovo next week to ensure full implementation of Tuesday’s signed association agreement.

Speaking through an interpreter, Kosovo’s Prime Isa Mustafa said he hoped “the next step would be visa liberalization” as his nation is the only country in the region not enjoying a visa-free regime with EU member states.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has been recognized by more than 100 countries. Five EU member countries are among the nations that do not recognize it, but they approved the association agreement.

The EU says it has been Kosovo's main supporter with some $1.4 billion in development aid for the period of 2007-2020.