Hoxhaj: The European Union is Kosovo’s national agenda

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During his participation in a panel at the European Forum “Alpbach 2012” together with the European Deputy Doris Pack and renowned Austrian politician, Erhard Busek, Minister Hoxhaj gave a lecture about the topic of European integration, in which he presented his views on the link between European perspectives and processes to Kosovo’s integration and that of the region.

In his speech to many leaders of European states, diplomats and representatives of European Union institutions, Minister Hoxhaj said that the Republic of Kosovo is working hard this year to make the European Union its objective and national agenda.
 
“We are in the process of concluding the supervision of independence, which will change the nature of our state and society. In addition, we are working hard to consolidate our statehood internally and for the first time after many years, the visa liberalization process has begun and we hope that in the coming months, next year, our citizens will be able to move freely through Europe without visas, and especially our students”, said Hoxhaj. 

Referring to Kosovar youth and the difficulties that Kosovar students face when traveling and studying in Europe, Kosovo’s Foreign Minister appealed to Brussels to pay more attention to Kosovo and especially its young people.

"Kosovo is the newest state with the youngest population in Europe. We are building the political elite from the foundations, and we are building institutions from the foundations; we are constructing an economy, educational system, and culture from the foundations; and, we are in the process of social transformation", said Minister Hoxhaj, adding that state-building in Kosovo is the aspiration of the people of Kosovo and a European Union success story.

Regarding the integration perspective of the region in the EU, Hoxhaj emphasized that for Balkan countries it was good news that despite the economic and financial crisis, the process of European Union enlargement would continue. 

Referring to Croatia’s path toward integration, Hoxhaj stressed that this is a very good example of how states in the region should modernize and reform, as a precondition for integration in the European Union.

“With regard to enlargement, it is very important that politicians in Europe fight against the perception of “enlargement fatigue” while it is also very important that politicians in the Balkans region combat the belief that the European Union is a gold mine”, Hoxhaj emphasized among other issues.

During the European Forum “Alpbach 2012”, Minister Hoxhaj held meetings and short discussions with many personalities and leaders of European states and EU mechanisms, as well as the President of Austria, Heinz Fischer, the President of Croatia, Ivo Josipovic, the Prime Minister of Lichtenstein, the European deputy Doris Pack and Ulricke Lunacek and many other personalities.