Question for Written Answer E-001560/2021/Rev.1 to the Commission Rule 138 Dominique Bilde (ID)

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Question for written answer E-001560/2021/rev.1 to the Commission Rule 138 Dominique Bilde (ID) Subject: Remarks by Kosovo and Albanian officials on ‘Greater Albania’ and the normalisation of relations in the Western Balkans Following the parliamentary elections in Kosovo on 14 February 2021, the leader of the winning party Vetëvendosje, Albin Kurti, Prime Minister from 3 February 2020 to 3 June 2020, told Euronews (for an article published on 16 February 2021) that, in a referendum on unifying Kosovo with Albania, he would vote in favour1. Ramush Haradinaj, the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and Prime Minister from 9 September 2017 to 3 February 2020, is reported as saying in January 2021: If Kosovo is not at the doors of NATO and the EU does not allow visa liberalisation for Kosovo, then we will seek a referendum on unification with Albania2. Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, referred in 2015 to the unification of the two entities, with or without integration into the European Union3. On 18 February 2018, he suggested a joint presidency of the two entities4. The attachment of Kosovo to Albania would violate Article 1(3) of Kosovo’s Constitution. Does the Commission consider these statements to be compatible with the objective of normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo and is it going to condemn them? 1 I would vote to unify Albania and Kosovo, election winner Albin Kurti tells Euronews. 2 Haradinaj to seek unification with Albania if ‘international approach to Kosovo does not change’ (euronews.al). 3 Albania and Kosovo to unite, inside EU or not: Albanian PM, Reuters. 4 https://www.dw.com/en/albanias-edi-rama-floats-joint-president-idea-in-kosovo/a-42642058; ‘Why not a single president, as a symbol of national unity and joint national security policy?’ Rama asked [...]’. PE691.529v02-00.

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