Kosovo: Resolving bilateral disputes in the spirit of good neighborly relations is of key importance

The process of accession to the European Union (EU) must be based on the implementation of reforms, and resolving bilateral disputes in the spirit of good neighborly relations is of key importance, it was announced at a meeting between European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Croatian officials.

Kos stated on the Iks network that she spoke today in Zagreb with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman.

She said that Croatia is a strong advocate of a strong, united and enlarged Europe.

"We agreed that the accession process must be based on the implementation of reforms by the candidate countries. Resolving bilateral disputes in the spirit of good neighbourly relations is of key importance," Kos said.

She added that they also discussed how the EU should prepare and reform itself to be ready to accept new members.

"This is the only way to ensure that a larger Union will also be a safer and more independent Europe," Kos said.

Plenković wrote on the X network that he and Marta Kos discussed the situation in Southeast Europe and the future of the EU enlargement process, which, he said, Croatia strongly supports.

According to him, new geopolitical circumstances create a more favorable environment for accelerating the dynamics of enlargement, especially in terms of providing a clear European perspective to Ukraine, Moldova and the countries of Southeast Europe.

"We believe that an approach based on individual achievements and meeting criteria must remain a fundamental principle throughout the enlargement process," said Plenković.

He stated that during the conversation he emphasized that the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is particularly important to Croatia.

"Therefore, we support further reform steps necessary to begin accession negotiations and advocate for amending electoral legislation with the aim of ensuring equality of all three constituent peoples in BiH," said Plenković.