VP/HR — Withdrawal of recognition of Kosovo

20.12.2018

Question for written answer E-006438-18
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Dominique Bilde (ENF)

On 5 December 2018, the Republic of Madagascar revoked its recognition of Kosovo, noting that any future recognition of Kosovo would depend on the outcome of negotiations with Serbia.

Grenada, Dominica, Suriname, Liberia, São Tomé and Principe, Guinea-Bissau, Burundi, Papua New Guinea and Lesotho have already withdrawn their recognition of the country.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008. It is now, in December 2018, recognised by 104 of the 193 UN member states and 23 of the 28 European Union Member States. Incidentally, Kosovo is still finding admission to leading international organisations difficult; its application to join Interpol was refused on 20 November 2018.

With the international community’s growing reluctance to recognise Kosovo, which still has not been recognised by five EU Member States, does the High Representative consider it realistic to pursue negotiations with Kosovo on possible membership of the European Union, notably given the Stabilisation and Association Agreement signed on 27 October 2015?