The Swedish Presidency of the European Union has started consultations with member countries regarding Kosovo’s request for membership in the European Union, and at this moment I do not want to prejudge what the results of these consultations will be.
This was said in Brussels by the Ambassador of Sweden to the EU, Lars Danielson, who personally started these consultations in the capacity of the next president of the EU.

Danielson said this in a meeting with accredited journalists in Brussels to whom he revealed the priorities that Sweden will have during its presidency of the EU Council.

“We are consulting with many states to see how we will decide on this request. We have five countries that do not know Kosovo and it is natural that I consult with them first. I have already met with some and we are continuing the meetings”, he said.

The permanent representative of Sweden in the EU has said that the decision on how to proceed with Kosovo’s application for membership in the EU is procedural but also political.

“It is a procedural decision but it has great political importance. I do not want to prejudge the results of the consultations, but as soon as I see that a consensus is being built between the member countries on how to act, I will notify the member countries. We have two alternatives: To take it to the Commission or not to take it to the Commission. But we are working with a lot of will on this file,” said the ambassador, Lars Danielson.

According to the procedures in the EU, after a country applies for membership, the Council asks the European Commission to compile an opinion on whether or not the applicant fulfills the conditions for candidate status and for starting membership negotiations.

Kosovo had submitted the formal application for EU membership on December 15.

The then Czech presidency did not have time to examine that request but only notified the member countries of its submission. Now that file is in the hands of the Swedish presidency, which is consulting on how to decide.

/k.s/