On Thursday, December 15, the prime minister of the partially recognized state of Kosovo officially submitted an application for full membership in the European Union.

This is reported by Radio Svobodna Evropa.

The official ceremony of presenting Kosovo's application for joining the EU took place in Prague.

It was received by the Czech Minister of European Affairs, Mikuláš Bek, as a representative of the state that presides over the Council of the European Union.

"Historical Day"

Kurti noted that this is a historic day for Kosovo, but also a great day for European democracy.

"The letter I am sending contains the hopes and dreams of our citizens. It speaks of our aspirations to join the EU, with which we share common values ​​and ideas," said the head of the partially recognized state.

Czech Minister Beck confirmed that Kosovo will have the support of his country in the next steps.

"We believe that our common future is the only way to solve the problems in the region," Beck said.

Prospects for accession to the EU

Kosovo is the latest country in the region to apply for candidate status, but its case is specific, as 5 of the 27 EU countries still do not recognize Kosovo's independence.

Countries that have not recognized Kosovo: Spain, Romania, Cyprus, Greece and Slovakia.

At the same time, European Commission spokeswoman Ana Pisonero emphasized in a written statement to the media that Kosovo has a clear European perspective and has support from the EU.

"When it comes to applications for membership, the procedures for submitting applications are prescribed in the Treaty on the EU," said Pisonero.

Article 49 of the EU Treaty states that "any European country" that respects these values ​​and is committed to promoting them may apply for membership of the Union.

Kosovo's bid to join the EU comes amid strained relations with Serbia, which does not recognize the region's independence, which it considers an autonomous region.

In the north of Kosovo, local Serbs blocked highways.

The Kosovo government has threatened to remove the barricades from the roads by force, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has appealed to the NATO contingent in Kosovo to approve the deployment of Serbian military and police forces there.

Official Belgrade also brought its troops to full combat readiness.

It will be recalled that earlier the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Gabriel Escobar advised Serbia and Kosovo to "rapidly resolve disputed issues" for the sake of unification with the EU.

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