Date of release : 13-06-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : General Affairs and External Relations Council

During the press conference following the first working session of the General Affairs and External Relations Council held in Luxembourg on 13 June, Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign Affairs and current President of the Council of the European Union, summarised the work on the future status of Kosovo: "The EU welcomes the decision to engage in a global review of the implementation of the standards in Kosovo and the nomination of Ambassador Kai Eide to do so. The opening, undoubtedly in autumn, of discussions on the future status of Kosovo will depend on the positive outcome of this review.

The Union fully supports this process and we held today an in-depth discussion on the contribution of the EU to the current process on the present and future of Kosovo. We based our discussions on a joint paper of the Secretariat of the Council and the Commission. We have agreed to follow up on this reflection during the months to come.

The EU – as has been said – is prepared to assume increased responsibility in Kosovo. Whatever its future status, Kosovo has the same European perspective as the rest of the region.

At its next meeting, the European Council will adopt a declaration on Kosovo, which remains one of the priorities of the Union."