The European Union and the future of Kosovo

Abstract

The issue of Kosovo has been one of the most controversial of this new millennium. Kosovo is now independent enjoying sovereignty and statehood looking forward for its future. Not all the international community has recognized Kosovo's independence and this can affect Kosovo's future. Many sustain that it lies in the EU. Kosovo's biggest opponent Serbia also sees the prospect of becoming a EU member state but the path is long as Serbia first has to recognize Kosovo's independence. Only time can say whether Kosovo joins the EU or not. In both cases Kosovo has to build a future for the Kosovars not forgetting Serbs, maintaining peace and stability. The question of Kosovo and the way it was partially resolved could eventually have a big impact on countries such as Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which is not recognized by the EU member states although it has been cut off from the rest of Cyprus for about 34 years. The situation is similar also to Georgia. Prior to Kosovo's declaration of independence Moscow hinted that it could recognize that statehood of the Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia if Kosovo separates from Serbia. Russia declares that the countries which recognize Kosovo's independence should think about the consequences. There are two main consequences which the Kosovo case raises: Can recognition be the only criterion for an entity to be a state? and are those countries which recognize Kosovo ready for other similar cases to open up?