European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has spoken about Kosovo’s European Union perspective, emphasizing that EU treaties provide that only a European country can apply for membership.
Explaining the difference between Kosovo and Canada when it comes to EU membership, von der Leyen said a country’s geographical location is one of the fundamental criteria established by the European treaties.
“The difference between Canada and Kosovo, for example, is the following: our treaties say that it must be a European country applying for membership in the European Union. Canada, geographically, is not Europe, so Canada cannot apply for membership in the European Union,” von der Leyen said.
She stressed that Kosovo’s situation is different because Kosovo is a European country and, as such, can pursue EU membership.
“For Kosovo, it is different. As a European country, you can be a member of the European Union, and that is precisely the goal we are pursuing,” the European Commission president said.
Von der Leyen made the remarks during her visit to Kosovo, where she held meetings with representatives of Kosovo’s institutions and discussed the country’s European perspective.
She also emphasized the importance of institutional stability and continued reforms in advancing Kosovo’s path toward European Union membership.
