Von der Leyen: Implementation of draft on municipalities in Pristina's interest

BRUSSELS - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday in Brussels implementation of a draft statute of a Community of Serb Municipalities was in the interest of Pristina and would be a "big step forward", while EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi noted that Pristina must redouble its efforts in making the dialogue with Belgrade successful.

They were speaking to reporters following the presentation of a European Commission report on EU enlargement.

"I think it is important for Kosovo that it has a very clear goal also to join the European Union, that we are very clear also on what we expect from Kosovo," von der Leyen said.

She said implementation of the "draft statute that Kosovo has gotten for the municipalities" would be a "big step forward."

"It is in the interest of Kosovo," she added.

"I also think that, if we look at Kosovo and Serbia, it is important for us that we give each country its unique possibility to move forward towards the European Union," she also said.

"The incentive is much more positive - the question that we ask is: What is your contribution to moving towards the European Union?" she added.

Varhelyi confirmed there was an EU membership application put forward by Pristina and that it was in the European Council.

"The Council has not yet asked the (European) Commission to provide an opinion on it. We are ready to provide the opinion," he said.

"Our feeling is - and you can also read this in our report - that, for Kosovo, the European path is coming through a successful dialogue. They should redouble their efforts in making the dialogue successful," Varhelyi said.