At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Minister of Immigration and Asylum Jean Asselborn, was in Pristina yesterday for a working visit to discuss, among other things, Kosovo’s accession to the European Union.

Minister Asselborn met with Minister Hoxhaj, and held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Ramiz Kelmendi, Interior Minister Skender Hyseni and the Minister for European Integration, Mimoza Ahmetaj. 

While encouraging the country to continue its efforts, particularly in the areas of strengthening the rule of law, socio-economic development and public administration reform, Minister Asselborn noted that "there have been many changes Since my last visit in 2010, particularly as regards the road to European integration."

Encouraging the Kosovo authorities to consolidate these positive developments, the minister explained that "progress in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina remains essential and will benefit the people of Kosovo (and Serbia) as well as the stability of the entire region; We must look forward and not backward.”

Minister Asselborn welcomed the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) on 1 April 2016. In that context, he confirmed that the Grand Duchy will provide technical assistance under the new cooperation agreement effective from 2017 until 2022 in order to support Kosovo in the implementation of the SAA requirements and obligations arising from the need to respect European jurisprudence.

In relation to the question of visa liberalisation, Minister Asselborn encouraged Kosovo to adopt the agreement on demarcation of the border with Montenegro and to continue efforts in the fight against corruption and organised crime.

Welcoming the fact that the Western Balkan countries have intensified their initiatives to reduce asylum claims of their citizens in the European Union, that a number of information campaigns have been launched and that cooperation on the return and The readmission has been improved, but Minister Asselborn stressed that the number of asylum applications from Kosovar citizens remains very high. In this context the Minister recalled that the Grand Duchy considers Kosovo to be a safe country of origin and drew attention to the fact that those who submit unsubstantiated applications for asylum are liable to return Inevitable in their country of origin.

Kosovo is currently the only beneficiary of Luxembourg's cooperation in the Balkans, focused primarily in the health, education, vocational training and civil society sectors.